GIFT   OF 


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The  Finance  Commission 


OF   THE 


CITY    OF    BOSTON 


A  Chronology  of  the  Boston  Public  Schools 


CITY   OF  BOSTON 

PRINTING    DEPARTMENT 

1912 


The  Finance  Commission 


OF   THE 


CITY    OF    BOSTON 


A  Chronology  of  the  Boston  Public  Schools 


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CITY   OF  BOSTON 

PRINTING    DEPARTMENT 

1912 


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NOTE 


This  chronology  originally  was  prepared  for  the 
Boston  Finance  Commission  by  George  A.  O.  Ernst  to 
assist  in  the  preparation  by  the  commission  of  its  report 
upon  the  Boston  Public  Schools. 

It  contains  a  reference  to  all  statutes,  whether  general 
or  special,  which  affect  the  Boston  schools;  and  to  a 
variety  of  matters  which  show  how  the  schools  have 
developed.  It  goes  into  greater  detail  as  to  the  work  of 
the  last  six  years  than  as  to  that  of  the  early  years 
because  the  present  situation  in  the  schools  is  the  real 
purpose  of  the  study,  and  the  past  is  chiefly  of  value  as 
it  explains  the  present.  Enough,  however,  is  given  to 
show  the  line  of  growth  and  the  fact  that  there  is  hardly 
one  of  the  great  accomplishments  of  the  present  which 
has  not  proved  its  worth  through  a  long  persistent 
struggle. 

Thus  the  unification  of  the  school  system,  fore- 
shadowed in  1830  by  Chief  Justice  Shaw  in  his  attempt 
to  do  away  with  the  grotesque  ^'double  headed  system ''; 
urged  by  Horace  Mann  soon  after  the  establishment  of 
the  State  Board  of  Education  in  1837;  bitterly  resisted 
for  many  years  by  members  of  the  School  Committee, 
of  the  Primary  School  Committee  and  of  the  teaching 
force,  is  now  almost  universally  accepted,  and  even  its 
critics  would  be  unwilling  to  go  back  to  the  old  days  of 
decentralization. 

Many  subjects  opposed  at  first  as  fads,  frills  and 
fancies  have  through  their  worth  obtained  permanent 
places  in  the  school  system.  Drawing,  ^^  permitted ''  in 
1827,  an  ^^ ornamental  branch"  in  1848,  '' compulsory '^ 
in  1870,  is  the  foundation  stone  of  our  industrial  schools. 
Sewing  was  taught  as  early  as  1818,  but  in  1876  an 
opinion  was  obtained  from  the  City  Solicitor  that 
spending  the  city's  money  for  the  purpose  was  illegal. 


30.57fia 


It,  however,  met  such  a  popular  need  that  it  was  at 
once  legaHzed  by  the  Legislature.  Physical  training, 
first  recognized  officially  in  1833,  has  had  to  fight  its 
way  to  full  recognition,  and  in  some  of  its  forms  is  still 
regarded  as  a  ^^fad"  or  ^' frill.'' 

The  much  discussed  change  from  nine  to  eight  grades 
in  the  elementary  schools  has  sometimes  been  said  to 
have  been  imported  from  a  western  city  together  with 
the  present  superintendent.  As  a  matter  of  fact  it  had 
been  favorably  considered  much  earlier.  In  1894  the 
experiment  of  parallel  courses  of  seven  and  nine  years 
(four  and  six  years  in  the  grammar  schools)  was  tried. 
In  1900,  two  years  before  the  present  superintendent 
came  to  Boston  as  a  supervisor,  the  School  Committee, 
after  a  careful  report  and  upon  the  favorable  recom- 
mendation of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  instructed  that 
Board  to  prepare  a  revised  course  of  study  providing 
for  eight  grades  instead  of  nine.  It  was,  however,  not 
adopted  until  1906. 

The  great  wrong  to  teachers  and  pupils  of  excessively 
large  classes  has  long  been  felt.  In  1880  (when  the 
standard  class  was  56)  it  was  pointed  out  that  there 
were  sometimes  70  pupils  in  a  class,  and  the  duty  of  the 
School  Committee  to  reduce  the  number  was  forcibly 
urged;  but  not  until  1900  (a  delay  of  20  years)  was  the 
standard  reduced  from  56  to  50.  In  1906  this  vital 
problem  was  taken  up  seriously,  and  the  quota  of  pupils 
to  teachers  has  since  been  steadily  reduced  to  44,  and 
there  are  plans  for  a  further  reduction. 

These  are  typical  instances  of  what  may  be  found  in 
the  chronology,  and  show  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
made,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  to  be  used. 


A  CHRONOLOGY   OF  THE   BOSTON   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 

Abbreviations:  W.  A. —  Wightman's  Annals  of  the  Primary  Schools. 
S.  D. —  School  Document.     S.  M. —  School  Minutes. 

1635. —  Latin  School,  for  boys  only,  established  as  the  first  public  school 
in  Boston.  This  was  a  year  before  the  foundation  of  Harvard 
College  aijd  more  than  three  years  before  that  institution  was 
opened.  (S.  D.  3  of  1905,  p.  56.)  It  is  probable  that  the 
elementary  as  well  as  the  higher  branches  of  education  were 
taught,  but  its  main  purpose  soon  became  the  fitting  of  young 
men  for  college.  (W.  A.,  p.  1;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  52;  S.  D.  3  of 
1903,  p.  9.) 

1641. —  The  town  voted  that  "Deare  Island  shall  be  improoved  for  the 
maintanance  of  a  Free  Schoole  for  the  Towne"  and  in  1649 
Long  and  Spectacle  Islands  were  leased,  the  rental  to  be  for 
the  use  of  the  school.     (W.  A.,  p.  2.) 

1642. —  Selectmen  required  by  law  to  "  have  a  vigilant  eye  over  their 
brethren  and  neighbors;  to  see  that  none  of  them  shall  suffer 
so  much  barbarism  in  any  of  their  families  as  not  to  endeavor 
to  teach  their  children  and  apprentices  so  much  learning  as 
may  enable  them  perfectly  to  read  the  English  tongue  and 
obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  capital  laws."  (Laws  and  Liberties, 
p.  16;  S.  D.  25  of  1880,  p.  3.) 

1647. —  Every  township  of  50  householders  required  to  appoint  a  teacher 
of  children  "to  write  and  read,"  and  of  100  householders  to 
"set  up  a  grammar  schoole  the  master  thereof  being  able  to 
instruct  youth  so  farr  as  they  may  be  fitted  for  the  university." 
(S.  D.  25  of  1880,  p.  4.) 

1682. —  Schools  estabhshed  under  vote  at  town  meeting  held  December 
18,  1682,  "for  the  teachinge  of  children  to  write  and  Cypher" 
under  writing  masters  (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  34),  open  to  boys 
only;  "the  beginning  of  the  common  schools  in  Boston." 
(S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  14.) 

1683. —  Every  town  of  500  families  or  householders  required  to  "set  up 
and  maintain  two  grammar  schools  and  two  writing  schools." 
(Colonial  Laws,  p.  305.) 

1692. —  Province  Laws  require  towns  of  50  householders  to  provide  "a 
schoolmaster  to  teach  children  and  youth  to  read  and  write," 
and  of  100  householders  a  grammar  school  to  be  conducted  by 
a  "discreet  person  of  good  conversation  well  instructed  in  the 
tongues,"     (Prov.  Laws,  1692-93,  Chap.  26.) 

1701. —  Grammar  masters  to  be  approved  by  ministers  by  certificate 
under  their  hands.     (Prov.  Laws  1701-2,  Chap.  10.) 


6 

1740. —  Grammar  masters  as  distinguished  from  writing  masters  appointed 
in  Boston  to  teach  reading,  grammar,  geography  and  other 
higher  studies,  beginning  the  "double-headed  system"  of 
divided  authority  between  writing  masters  and  grammar 
masters.  The  children  in  each  school  were  divided  into  two 
parts,  the  one  attending  in  the  forenoon  in  the  grammar  master's 
room,  which  was  usually  upstairs,  and  in  the  afternoon  in  the 
writing  master's  room,  which  was  usually  downstairs;  while  the 
other  part  attended  in  the  reverse  order.    (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  15.) 

1751. —  A  committee  reported  to  the  town  that  "the  charge  of  supporting 
the  several  Publick  Schools  amounted  the  last  year  to  more 
than  one-third  part  of  the  whole  sum  drawn  for  by  the  select- 
men."    (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  37.) 

1762. —  The  town  voted  that  the  treasurer  be  directed  to  borrow  1,500 
pounds  for  the  payment  of  the  schoolmasters'  salaries  then  due 
(S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  38),  an  early  instance  of  the  payment  of 
current  expenses  from  loans. 

1789. —  Every  town  or  district  of  50,  100  or  150  householders  required  to 
provide  schoolmasters  of  good  morals  for  varying  school  terms 
"to  teach  children  to  read  &  write  &  to  instruct  them  in  the 
enghsh  language  as  well  as  in  arithmetic,  orthography  and 
decent  behavior,"  and  of  200  families  or  householders  to  pro- 
vide "a  grammar  schoolmaster  of  good  morals  well  instructed 
in  the  latin,  greek  and  english  languages,"  no  youth  to  be 
sent  to  such  schools,  without  permission  from  the  Selectmen, 
"unless  they  shall  have  learned  in  some  other  school  or  in  some 
other  way  to  read  the  english  language  by  spelling  the  same." 
(Acts  of  1789,  Chap.  19.) 

School  Committee  chosen,  consisting  of  Selectmen  and  one  member 
from  each  ward.     (W.  A.,  p.  7;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  7.) 

Girls  first  admitted  to  the  Boston  pubHc  schools,  but  only  from 
20th  April  to  20th  October  in  each  year.  "This  was  doubtless 
because  many  of  the  boys  had  work  to  do  in  the  summer  season, 
and  so  left  room  in  the  schools  for  the  girls."  (S.  D.  3  of  1903, 
p.  14.)  There  was  a  thorough  reorganization  of  the  school 
system;  the  age  limit  of  admission  to  the  reading  and  writing 
schools  was  fixed  at  seven,  pupils  to  be  allowed  to  continue 
until  the  age  of  fourteen.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p  39.) 

1793. —  Franklin  medals  to  boys  only  first  awarded,  though  dated  1792. 
(W.  A.,  p.  8.) 

1812. —  Appropriation  "towards  maintaining  a  school  for  African  chil- 
dren." Prior  to  this  time,  colored  children  who  so  desired 
attended  white  schools.     (City  Doc.  23  of  1846,  p.  15.) 

1816. —  Sunday  schools  (private)  first  estabhshed  in  Boston,  the  object 
being  to  teach  children  to  read  and  write  as  well  as  to  give  re- 
ligious instruction.  This  brought  out  the  fact  that  a  large 
proportion  of  children  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  to  them 
therefore  under  the  law  of  1789,  quoted  above,  the  doors  of  the 


public  schools  were  shut.  This  was  one  of  the  causes  which 
led  to  the  establishment  of  primary  schools.  (W.  A.,  p.  12; 
S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  13.) 

1818. —  Primary  schools  first  established  in  Boston  although  opposed  by 
the  Selectmen  and  School  Committee  (W.  A.,  p.  35),  for  chil- 
dren between  four  and  seven  years  of  age  under  a  Primary  School 
Committee  of  36  members  appointed  by,  but  with  authority 
independent  of,  the  regular  School  Committee  (W.  A.,  p.  72); 
the  origin  of  the  distinction  long  recognized  between  primary 
and  grammar  schools  (S.  D.  3  of  1902,  p.  45)  which  was  not 
until  1906  wholly  abandoned.  (S.  D.  9  of  1906,  p.  28.)  In 
these  schools  the  girls  were  taught  knitting  or  sewing.  (W.  A., 
p.  44.) 

1820. —  First  "intermediate  school "  established  for  iUiterate  children  over 
seven  years  of  age,  who  were  too  old  to  be  admitted  to  the 
primary  schools,  and  under  the  law  of  1789,  because  of  their 
illiteracy,  could  not  be  admitted  to  the  grammar  schools.  Inves- 
tigation showed  that  there  were  a  large  number  of  such  chil- 
dren.    (W.  A.,  p.  53.) 

1821. —  English  Classical  (now  High)  School  established  for  boys  who 
were  to  be  prepared  not  for  the  university  but  for  various 
mercantile  and  mechanical  pursuits.  In  later  years  it  has 
become  important  as  a  fitting  school  for  the  higher  institutions, 
like  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  and  Harvard 
College.  (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  pp.  39,  42.) 
City  medals  for  girls  instituted  as  an  offset  to  the  Frankhn  medals 
for  boys;  abolished  in  1847;  restored  in  1848;  but  finally  given 
up,  and  diplomas  substituted.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  42.) 

1822. —  Under  the  city  charter  a  school  committee  established  consisting 
of  the  Mayor,  aldermen  and  one  member  elected  from  each 
ward,  25  members  in  all.     (Acts  of  1821,  Chap.  110.) 

1826. —  High  School  for  Girls  established,  but  the  number  of  girls  applying 
was  so  great  that  it  was  given  up  in  1828;  in  other  words,  it 
was  too  successful.  (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  47;  S.  D.  3  of  1903, 
p.  43.) 
Text-books  required  by  law  to  be  furnished  to  pupils  "at  such 
prices  as  merely  to  reimburse  to  the  town  the  expense  of  pro- 
curing the  same";  free  to  those  unable  to  pay.  Teachers  must 
obtain  from  School  Committee  a  certificate  of  fitness  to 
instruct.     (Acts  of  1825-26,  Chap.  170.) 

1827. —  In  addition  to  studies  previously  required,  towns  of  500  families 
required  to  provide  a  master  competent  to  teach  history  of  the 
United  States,  book-keeping  by  single  entry,  geometry,  sur- 
veying and  algebra,  and  where  there  were  4,000  inhabitants 
general  history,  rhetoric  and  logic.  No  books  to  be  used  or 
purchased  "calculated  to  favor  any  particular  rehgious  sect  or 
tenet."  Provision  as  to  teachers'  certificate  of  qualifications. 
(Acts  of  1826-27,  Chap.  143.) 


8 

1827. —  Drawing  introduced  as  a  "permitted"  subject  in  the  English  High 
School.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  97.) 

1828. —  High  School  for  Girls  discontinued,  but  girls  admitted  to  grammar 
and  writing  schools  throughout  the  year.  (S.  D.  18  of  1888, 
p.  48.) 

1830. —  "Infant  Schools,"  forerunners  of  the  kindergarten,  having  been 
established  by  private  societies  and  individuals,  were  consid- 
ered adversely  by  the  Primary  School  Committee.  (W.  A., 
p.  123;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  30.) 

Chief  Justice  Shaw,  then  a  member  of  the  School  Committee, 
attacked  the  "double-headed  system"  and  urged  the  "single- 
headed  system"  (the  supremacy  of  the  grammar  masters),  but 
without  immediate  effect,  the  change  (although  tried  in  1836 
in  two  schools)  not  being  permanently  adopted  until  1847. 
"With  all  the  sound  arguments  of  reason  and  experience  on  its 
side,  a  campaign  of  no  less  than  seventeen  years  was  necessary 
to  bring  its  merit  into  general  recognition.  Like  many  another 
school  reform  it  was  seen  to  be  inimical  to  what  the  school- 
masters (i.  e.,  the  writing  masters)  were  pleased  to  regard  as 
their  vested  rights  and  interests."     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  16.) 

Chief  Justice  Shaw  also  advocated,  but  more  successfully,  the 
education  of  the  sexes  in  separate  school  buildings.  This  is  the 
origin  of  separate  schools  in  the  older  parts  of  Boston.  (S.  D. 
3  of  1903,  p.  18.) 

Attempt  to  introduce  music  as  a  regular  study  in  the  pubHc 
schools.     (S.  D.  15  of  1888,  p.  3.) 

1833. —  Interesting  exhibition  of  conservatism  in  resisting  introduction 
into  the  primary  schools  of  books,  maps,  globes,  or  anything 
outside  the  established  curriculum,  the  Board  refusing  not  on 
sanitary  grounds  but  from  pure  conservatism  a  request  of  a 
member  to  introduce  experimentally  at  his  own  expense  a  black- 
board, slates  and  pencils.  (W.  A.,  p.  136  et  seq.)  Public  senti- 
ment was  strongly  in  favor  of  the  innovations  and  the  Board 
later  provided  slates  and  pencils.  (W.  A.,  p.  149.)  Black- 
boards were  also  subsequently  provided,  and  there  was  a  gradual 
increase  in  educational  helps.  (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  30.) 
First  official  action  as  to  physical  education  in  primary  schools. 

(S  D.  22  of  1891,  p.  26;   W.  A.,  p.  149.) 
Children  over  eight  years  of  age  admitted  into  the  grammar 
schools,  although  not  quahfied  by  their  attainments,  provided 
their  parents  or  guardians  obtained  permission  of  the  sub-com- 
mittee in  charge.     (W.  A.,  p.  148.) 

1834. —  Act  reorganizing  School  Committee  to  consist  of  Mayor  and 
twenty  members  elected  at  large,  ten  each  year  for  two  years 
(Acts  of  1834,  Chap.  158),  not  accepted  by  the  people. 

1835. —  School  Committee  reorganized,  to  consist  of  Mayor,  president  of 
Common  Council,  and  two  members  elected  from  each  ward,  26 
members  in  all.     (Acts  of  1835,  Chap.  128.) 


9 

1835. —  Sewing,  which  had  been  taught  in  primary  schools,  authorized  in 
writing  schools.     (S.  D.  24  of  1881,  p.  3;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  72.) 

1836. —  Drawing  made  "obligatory"  in  the  English  High  School,  but  no 
teacher  of  drawing  appointed  until  1853.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  97.) 

1837.— State  Board  of  Education  established  (Acts  of  1837,  Chap.  241), 
and  Horace  Mann  elected  Secretary.  (S.  D.  18  of  1888, 
p.  26.) 

1838. —  Beginning  of  the  controversies  (W.  A.,  p.  175)  which  ended  with 
the  abolition  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  in  1855.  (W.  A., 
p.  259.)  The  Primary  Board  in  principle  and  practice  was  in 
direct  antagonism  {id.,  p.  277)  to  the  doctrine  of  centralization 
advocated  by  Horace  Mann,  who  urged  making  the  educational 
system  a  "unit"  and  placing  it  under  the  supervision  of  a  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools  {id.,  p.  266).  The  primary  system 
was  an  extreme  illustration  of  decentralization,  each  primary 
teacher  with  her  school  being  an  independent  entity.  (S.  D.  3 
of  1902,  p.  45.) 

School  Committees  to  make  annual  reports;  and  to  select  and 
make  contracts  with  teachers.     (Acts  of  1838,  Chap.  105.) 

City  Council  passed  order  authorizing  the  Primary  School  Com- 
mittee to  admit  children  over  seven  who  were  not  qualified  for 
admission  to  the  grammar  schools;  development  of  "Inter- 
mediate Schools."     (W.  A.,  p.  173;  see  also  id.,  p.  55.) 

Music  (singing)  introduced  into  schools.  (S.  D.  15  of  1888,  p.  4; 
S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  89.) 

1841.—  Brighton  High  School  established.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  50.) 

1844. —  School  Committee  authorized  to  dismiss  any  teacher  from  the 
service,  compensation  thereupon  immediately  to  cease.  (Acts 
of  1844,  Chap.  32.) 
Bitter  attack  upon  Horace  Mann  and  his  famous  "Seventh 
Report"  by  "31  Boston  Grammar  Masters."  (Martin's  Evolu- 
tion of  the  Massachusetts  Pubhc  School  System,  p.  181.  For 
titles  of  pamphlets  in  the  controversy  which  followed  see  Bar- 
nard's Journal  of  Education,  Vol.  5,  p.  651.) 

1845. —  Severe  comment  by  Committee  on  Examinations  upon  examina- 
tion papers  written  by  grammar  pupils  of  this  year.  (City 
Doc.  26  of  1845.) 

Colored  citizens  petition  for  the  abolition  of  special  schools  for 
colored  children  —  majority  and  minority  reports  thereon. 
(City  Doc.  23  of  1846.)  Primary  School  Committee  voted 
against  the  change.    (W.  A.,  pp.  209,  214.) 

Primary  School  Committee  voted,  46  to  18,  against  establishing 
position  of  Superintendent.    (W.  A.,  p.  211.) 

1847. —  Appropriation  of  money  authorized  for  schools  to  teach  "adults 
reading,  writing,  EngUsh  grammar,  arithmetic  and  geography." 
(Acts  of  1847,  Chap.  137.) 


10 

1847. —  John  D.  Philbrick  appointed  master  of  the  Quincy  School,  a 
substantial  victory  of  the  "single-headed  system,"  which  in  a 
few  years  thereafter  became  universal  in  Boston,  the  writing 
master  gradually  disappearing,  authority  being  given  to  the 
grammar  master,  an  important  step  towards  unification.  As 
an  illustration  of  the  difficulty  of  dispensing  with  superfluous 
employees  it  may  be  noted  that  one  of  the  writing  masters 
drew  pay  until  his  death  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  96,  although  for 
many  years  he  rendered  no  service,  but  was  annually  appointed 
as  an  "assistant  teacher."  (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  17;  S.  M.  of 
1876,  p.  200.) 
Report  of  committee  in  favor  of  free  text-books  to  all  pupils. 
(Doc.  38  of  1847.) 

1848. —  Drawing  placed  on  the  Hst  of  grammar  school  studies,  but  treated 
as  an  "ornamental  branch,"  and  Httle  done  with  it  until  1871. 
(S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  97.) 
Charlestown  High  School  estabhshed.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  50.) 

1849.—  Eliot  (now  West  Roxbury)  High  School  established.  (S.  D.  18 
of  1888,  p.  50.) 

1850. —  Pubhc  schools  to  be  supplied  with  dictionaries  at  state  expense. 

(Resolves  of  1850,  Chap.  99.) 
Physiology  and  hygiene  authorized  to  be  taught  in  the  public 

schools  and  all  teachers  required  to  be  examined  thereon.     (Acts 

of  1850,  Chap.  229.) 
First  truant  law  enacted  in  Massachusetts  for  children  between 

six  and  fifteen  years  of  age.     (Acts  of  1850,  Chap.  294.)     (For 

subsequent  truant  legislation  see  S.  D.  25  of  1880.) 

1851. —  Office  of  Superintendent  established;  Nathan  Bishop  elected  as 
first  Superintendent  of  the  Boston  Pubhc  Schools;  held  office 
until  1856.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  58;  W.  A.,  p.  266  et  seq.) 

1852. —  Compulsory  school  age  to  be  "  between  the  ages  of  eight  and 

fourteen  years."     (Acts  of  1852,  Chap.  240.) 
Normal  School  established  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  young 

women  to  become  teachers.     (S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  297.) 
Roxbury  High  School  and  Dorchester  High  School  estabhshed. 

(S.  D.  18  of  1888,  pp.  48  and  50.) 

1853. —  Rule  established  that  "every  scholar  shall  have  daily  in  the  fore- 
noon and  afternoon  some  kind  of  physical  or  gymnastic  exercise." 
(S.  D.  22  of  1891,  p.  27.) 

1854. —  School  Committee  reorganized  to  consist  of  Mayor,  president 
of  Common  Council,  and  six  elected  from  each  ward,  in  all 
74  members.     (Acts  of  1854,  Chap.  448,  Sect.  53.) 

General  law  authorizing  cities  and  towns  to  establish  position 
of  Superintendent  of  Schools.  (Acts  of  1854,  Chap.  314.) 
Boston  had  already  appointed  a  Superintendent  in  1851. 

High  School  courses  for  girls  introduced  in  the  Normal  School 
and  name  changed  to  the  Girls'  High  and  Normal  School. 
(S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  297.) 


11 

1854.—  High  School  for  Girls  established  m  Roxbury.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888, 
p.  49.) 
Sewing,  heretofore  "authorized,"  now  required  to  be  taught  in 
4th  class  of  the  Grammar  Schools  for  Girls.     (S.  D.  24  of  1881, 
p.  4.) 

1855. —  Primary  School  Committee  (established  in  1818),  which  had 
grown  to  196  members,  abohshed  (by  the  charter  amendments 
of  1854)  and  jurisdiction  over  the  primary  schools  transferred 
to  regular  School  Committee,  but  the  distinction  between 
primary  and  grammar  schools  and  the  independence  of  primary 
schools,  through  primary  sub-committees,  continued.  (W.  A., 
p.  264;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  29;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  34  et  seq.) 

Cities  and  towns  authorized  to  furnish  school  books  and  stationery 
at  their  own  expense.  (Acts  of  1855,  Chap.  436  —  repealed  in 
1857;  Acts  of  1857,  Chap.  206.) 

Daily  reading  of  some  portion  of  the  Bible  in  the  common  English 
version  required.     (Acts  of  1855,  Chap.  410.) 

Distinction  on  account  of  race,  color  or  rehgion  in  admission  to 
public  schools  forbidden.     (Acts  of  1855,  Chap.  256.) 

Amendment  to  the  Constitution  forbidding  school  moneys  to 
be  appropriated  for  sectarian  schools.     (Article  XVIII.) 

Compulsory  vaccination  law.    (Acts  of  1855,  Chap.  414.) 

1856. —  John  D.  Philbrick  elected  Superintendent;  continued  in  oflSce 
except  for  a  brief  interval  until  1878.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  19.) 

1857. —  Schools  for  persons  over  fifteen  years  of  age  authorized,  to  be 
held  either  in  the  day  or  evening,  the  School  Committee  to 
determine  subjects  to  be  taught.      (Acts  of  1857,  Chap.  189.) 

Teachers  must  be  competent  to  teach  (in  addition  to  previously 
required  studies)  algebra  and  the  history  of  the  United  States 
in  towns  of  50  or  more  families;  natural  philosophy,  chemistry, 
botany,  and  civil  polity  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the 
United  States,  in  towns  of  500  families;  and  French, 
astronomy,  geology,  intellectual  and  moral  science,  and  political 
economy  in  towns  of  4,000  inhabitants.  (Acts  of  1857,  Chap. 
206.) 

Children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years  entitled  to 
attend  school  where  they  reside,  but  nonresident  parent  or 
guardian  must  pay  for  the  tuition  a  sum  equal  to  the  average 
expense  per  scholar  for  such  school.     (Acts  of  1857,  Chap.  132.) 

Superintendent  Philbrick  recommended  classification  in  primary 
schools,  and  that  each  pupil  be  supplied  with  a  single  desk  and 
chair,  and  also  with  a  slate;  adopted  and  carried  into  effect. 
Prior  to  this,  each  primary  teacher  had  charge  of  six  classes,  and 
carried  the  pupils  under  her  care  through  the  whole  preparation 
for  the  grammar  school.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  30.) 

1858. —  Standing  Committee  on  Music  established,  and  special  instructors 
appointed.  (For  history  of  music  in  the  schools  see  School  Com- 
mittee Report  of  1858,  p.  45;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  89.) 


12 

1859. —  School  books  to  be  furnished  to  scholars  at  net  cost;  when  a  change 
is  made  the  School  Committee  shall  furnish  the  substituted 
book  to  each  pupil  requiring  it  at  the  expense  of  the  city  or 
town.  (Acts  of  1859,  Chap.  93.) 
School  Committees  to  select  and  contract  with  teachers;  require 
satisfactory  evidence  of  the  good  moral  character  of  all  instruct- 
ors, and  ascertain  by  personal  examination  their  quahfications 
for  teaching  and  capacity  for  the  government  of  schools.  (Acts 
of  1859,  Chap.  60;  see  Rev.  St.,  Chap.  23,  Sect.  13;  Acts  of 
1838,  Chap.  105.) 

1860. —  Special  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  of  physical 
training.    (S.  D.  7  of  1890,  p.  24.) 

1861. —  Minimum  age  of  admission  to  primary  schools  raised  from  four 
to  five  years.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  31.) 
Roxbury  High  Schools  for  boys  and  girls  united  into  single  school. 
(S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  49.) 

1862. —  Agriculture  authorized  to  be  taught  by  lectures  or  otherwise  in 
the  public  schools.  (Acts  of  1862,  Chap.  7.) 
Bible  to  be  read  daily  without  note  or  comment;  no  scholar  to  be 
required  to  read  from  any  particular  version  whose  parent  or  guar- 
dian declares  he  has  conscientious  scruples  against  it;  no  school 
book  to  be  purchased  or  used  calculated  to  favor  the  tenets  of 
any  particular  sect  of  Christians.     (Acts  of  1862,  Chap.  57.) 

1863. —  State  Board  of  Education  directed  by  Legislature  to  report  con- 
cerning the  introduction  in  schools  of  military  drill.  (Resolves 
of  1863,  Chap.  66.) 

1864, —  Military  drill  introduced,  although  the  Legislature  refused  to  pass 
bills  authorizing  it.  (S.  D.  22  of  1891,  p.  41.) 
Instruction  in  physical  culture  introduced  under  orders  passed 
by  the  School  Committee  which  have  been  called  the  "great 
charter  of  Physical  Training  in  the  Boston  schools."  (S.  D. 
18  of  1888,  p.  76;  S.  D.  22  of  1891,  p.  43.)  The  latter  document 
contains  an  elaborate  study  of  physical  training  and  of  its 
history  in  Boston. 

1866. —  Masters  of  grammar  schools  given  duties  of  principal,  both  in 
the  grammar  and  primary  schools  of  their  respective  districts. 
This  attempt  at  unification  met  with  opposition  from  some  of 
the  masters  who  were  ''incompetent  or  unwilling  to  exercise 
a  helpful  control  over  the  methods  of  primary  teaching";  and 
from  many  of  the  teachers  who  "were  slow  to  co-operate  either 
with  the  master  or  with  each  other."  It  continued  until  1879, 
when  jurisdiction  over  primary  schools  was  temporarily  taken 
away  from  the  grammar  masters  but  restored  in  1882.  (S.  D. 
18  of  1888,  p.  31;  see  also  S.  D.  3  of  1902,  p.  45.) 

1867.—  Schools  for  Ucensed  minors  estabhshed.     (S.  D.  19  of  1885,  p.  22.) 
Corporal  punishment  considered.     (Annual  Report  of  1868,  p.  197; 
see  also  S.  M.  of  1902,  p.  501;  S.  D.  14  of  1903,  p.  6.) 

1868. —  First  regular  appropriation  in  Boston  for  evening  schools,  under 
authority  of  Acts  of  1857,  Chap.  189,  a  delay  of  eleven  years. 
(S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  72.) 


13 

1868. —  Roxbury  annexed  and  schools  taken  over,   including  Roxbury 
High  School.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  50.) 
Diplomas  first  awarded  to  graduates.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  43.) 
1869.—  Evening  High  School  first  opened.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  73.) 

Horace  Mann  School  for  the  Deaf  first  opened.  (S.  D.  3  of  1903, 
p.  66.) 
1870. —  Teaching  drawing  in  public  schools  and  free  instruction  in  indus- 
trial or  mechanical  drawing  to  persons  over  fifteen  years  of  age 
in  day  or  evening  schools  made  compulsory  in  towns  or  cities 
having  more  than  10,000  inhabitants.  (Acts  of  1870,  Chap.  248.) 
Free  Evenirig  Industrial  Drawing  School  first  opened.     (S.  D.  3 

of  1903,  p.  75;  S.  D.  3  of  1905.) 
Dorchester  annexed  and  schools  taken  over,  including  Dorchester 

High  School.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  50.) 
First  kindergarten  established,  believed  to  be  the  first  public  free 

kindergarten  in  the  world.     (S.  D.  2  of  1888,  p.  18.) 
Change  from  four  grammar  grades  to  six,   making  with  three 
primary  grades  nine  grades  below  the  high  schools;   beginning 
of  the  nine-grade  system  in  Boston.     (S.  D.  3  of  1904,  p.  49.) 
1871. —  Drawing  first  taken  seriously  in  the  schools  through  the  move- 
ment for  industrial  art  education.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  97.) 
1872. —  Industrial  schools  authorized;  the  School  Committee  to  "  prescribe 
the  arts,  trades  and  occupations  to  be  taught,"  and  to  have  the 
management  thereof.     (Acts  of  1872,  Chap.  86.) 
Normal  School  and  Girls'  High  School  separated  and  each  estab- 
Hshed  as  an  independent  institution.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  48.) 
1873.     Truant  officers  first  placed  under  authority  of  School  Committee. 
(Acts  of  1873,  Chap.  262.) 
Age  of  compulsory  attendance  decreased  from  fourteen  to  twelve 
years,  but  term  of  schooling  lengthened.     (Acts  of  1873,  Chap. 
279.) 
School  books  may  be  loaned  to  pupils.     (Acts  of  1873,  Chap.  106.) 
1874. —  Age  limit  restored  from  twelve  to  fourteen  years  for  compulsory 
attendance  at  school.     (Acts  of  1874,  Chap.  233.) 
Charlestown,  Brighton  and  West  Roxbury  annexed  and  schools 

taken  over,  including  high  schools.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  50.) 

The  legality  of  using  the  city's  money  for  the  Normal  School 

having  been  questioned  (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  59),  its  establishment 

was  legahzed  by  the  Legislature.     (Acts  of  1874,  Chap.  167.) 

1875. —  School  Committee,  having  by  annexation  and  the  city's  growth 

increased  to  116  members,  was  reorganized  and  the  number 

reduced  to  25  (beginning  January,  1876),  to  consist  of  the  Mayor 

and  24  members  elected  at  large  in  groups  of  8  each,  serving 

three  years.     (Acts  of  1875,  Chap.  241;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  8.) 

Power   given  School  Committee  to    appoint  janitors.     (Acts  of 

1875,  Chap.  241.) 
Power  given  School  Committee  to  decide  as  to  necessity  and  loca- 
tion of  school  buildings  and  alterations  costing  over  $1,000, 
but  appropriations  to  be  made  by  and  work  done  through  City 
Council.     (Acts  of  1875,  Chap.  241.) 


14 

1875. —  School  Committee  to  elect  a  Superintendent  and  Board  of  not 
exceeding  six  Supervisors  for  terms  of  two  years,  a  Secretary 
and  Auditing  Clerk.  (Acts  of  1875,  Chap.  241.) 
1876. —  Under  the  new  School  Committee,  the  rules  and  regulations 
were  revised,  and  a  large  apparent  power  was  given  to  the 
Superintendent  and  Supervisors,  but  real  power  was  retained 
in  sub-committees.  (Rules  and  Regulations  of  1876;  S.  D. 
18  of  1888,  p.  30;  S.  D.  4  of  1896,  p.  85.) 

The  fitness  of  candidates  for  the  teaching  force  was,  under  the 
rules,  to  be  determined  by  examinations  to  be  held  by  the 
Supervisors  by  whom  "Certificates  of  Qualification"  were  to  be 
granted.     (Rules  and  Regulations  of  1876;  S.  D.  5  of  1889,  p.  25.) 

Law  as  to  change  of  text-books  amended  to  require  a  two-thirds 
vote  of  the  entire  committee.     (Acts  of  1876,  Chap.  47.) 

City  Sohcitor  having  ruled  that  the  city's  money  could  not  legally 
be  spent  in  the  teaching  of  sewing  (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  73) 
(although  it  had  been  taught  for  many  years),  it  was  legalized 
by  the  Legislature.     (Acts  of  1876,  Chap.  3.) 

Estabhshing  office  of  Medical  Inspector  of  Schools  considered, 
but  City  Solicitor  advised  that  the  committee  had  no  legal 
right  to  spend  money  for  the  purpose.  (S.  M.  of  1876,  p.  214; 
S.  M.  of  1877,  p.  51;  S.  D.  20  of  1889,  p.  5.) 
1877. —  School  Committee  incorporated  with  authority  to  hold  property  in 
trust.     (Acts  of  1877,  Chap.  53.) 

A  truant  officer  with  the  title  of  Superintendent  of  Licensed  Minors 
assigned  to  schools  for  licensed  minors.     (S.  D,  19  of  1885,  p.  22.) 
1878.— Samuel   Eliot  elected  Superintendent.     (S.  M.  of  1878,  p.  12.) 
Remained  in  office  until  1880. 

East  Boston  High  School  established.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  52.) 

Girls'  Latin  School  established  for  the  express  purpose  of  fitting 
girls  for  college.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  53.) 

Stationery  may  be  supplied  free.     (Acts  of  1878,  Chap.  23.) 

Nautical  schools  authorized  by  law.     (Acts  of  1878,  Chap.  159.) 
1879. —  Supervision  of  primary  schools  taken  from  grammar  masters  and 
placed  in  charge  of  Supervisors.     (S.  D.  10  of  1879;  S.  D.  4  of 
1880,  pp.  3,  62;  S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  31.) 

Elaborate  reports  on  proposed  revision  of  the  school  system. 
(S.  D.  4  to  12  of  1879.) 

Report  on  Industrial  Education,  with  especial  reference  to  the 
estabhshment  of  a  Free  Industrial  Institute  for  the  education 
of  mechanics,  consisting  of  a  developing  school  and  school 
shops,  recommending  its  establishment.     (S.  D.  25  of  1879.) 

Kindergarten  and  intermediate  schools  discontinued.  (S.  D.  30 
of  1879,  p.  9.) 

Pensions  for  teachers  suggested  tentatively.  (S.  D.  30  of  1879, 
p.  37;  see  also  S.  D.  5  of  1880,  p.  6;  S.  D.  10  of  1880.) 

Women  authorized  to  vote  for  School  Committee.  (Acts  of  1879, 
Chap.  223.) 
1880. —  Law  amended  so  that  no  pupil  shall  be  required  to  take  any 
personal  part  in  reading  the  Bible  whose  parent  or  guardian 
informs  the  teacher  that  he  has  conscientious  scruples  against 
it.     (Acts  of  1880,  Chap.  176.) 


15 

1880. —  Committee  on  primary  school  instruction  reported  as  to  excessive 
number  of  children  in  various  classes,  sometimes  as  high  as 
seventy,  and  said  "forty  children  are  all  that  one  woman  can 
attend  to  properly,"  adding  that  it  is  "the  first  duty  of  the 
Board  to  remedy  this  great  wrong,"  (S.  D.  1  of  1880,  p.  5.) 
At  this  time  fifty-six  pupils  to  a  teacher  was  the  standard, 
with  thirty-five  in  ungraded  classes.  (Rules  and  Regulations 
for  1879,  section  216.) 
City  Sohcitor  having  ruled  (S.  M.  of  1880,  p.  122)  that  an  In- 
structor in  Hygiene  might  be  appointed,  but  that  he  could  not 
have  duties  of  medical  inspector,  a  controversy  in  the  com- 
mittee arose  and  not  until  1885  was  the  position  filled.  (S.  D. 
20  of  1889.) 
Report  of  Committee  on  Truant  Ofl&cers  giving  an  historical 
sketch  of  this  branch  of  the  school  system.  (S.  D.  25  of  1880.) 
Edwin  P.  Seaver  elected  Superintendent;  remained  in  office  for 
twenty-four  years,  until  1904.  (S.  D.  27  of  1880,  p.  12;  S.  M. 
of  1880,  p.  201;  S.  M.  of  1904,  p.  302.)  In  his  first  annual 
report  he  urged  "a  unity  of  purpose  and  a  unity  of  method 
which  come  only  from  proper  supervi^on"  and  "efficient  co- 
operation."    (S.  D.  5  of  1881,  p.  13.) 

1881. —  Cahsthenics,  gymnastics  and  military  drill  authorized  by  statute, 
and  prior  action  of  school  committees  in  causing  them  to  be 
taught  ratified  and  confirmed.  This  legahzed  what  had  long 
been  done  in  Boston.     (Acts  of  1881,  Chap.  193.) 

Movement  to  abolish  suburban  high  schools;  majority  and  minority 
reports  thereon;  failed  because  of  public  protest.  (S.  D.  8  of 
1881;  S.  D.  26  of  1881,  p.  11;  S.  M.  of  1881,  p.  132.) 

A  system  of  supplementary  reading  introduced.  (S.  D.  7  of  1881; 
S.  D.  4  of  1882,  p.  51;  S.  D.  3  of  1902,  p.  36.) 

Experiment  in  industrial  instruction  through  a  "carpenter's 
class"  in  the  Dwight  School.  (S.  D.  15  of  1882;  S.  D.  4  of 
1883,  p.  39.) 

Historical  account  of  sewing  in  the  schools.  (S.  D.  24  of  1881, 
p.  8.) 

1882. —  Supervision  of  primary  schools  taken  from  the  Supervisors  and 
restored  to  grammar  masters,  the  value  of  imification  being 
now  more  fully  recognized.  (S.  D.  2  of  1882;  S.  D.  4  of 
1882,  p.  18;  S.  D.  21  of  1882,  p.  17;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  37.) 
The  City  Solicitor  having  ruled  that  the  city  could  not  legally 
provide  instruction  in  the  Normal  School  for  the  benefit  of 
teachers  in  the  service  of  the  city  (S.  D.  4  of  1882,  p.  46),  the 
Legislature  gave  authority.     (Acts  of  1882,  Chap.  136.) 

1883. —  Evening  schools  compulsory  in  towns  and  cities,  of  10,000  or  more 
inhabitants  "for  the  instruction  of  persons  over  12  years  of  age  in 
orthography,  reading,  writing,  geography,  arithmetic,  drawing, 
history  of  the  United  States,  and  good  behavior,"  and  such  other 
subjects  as  the  School  Committee  shall  deem  expedient.  (Acts 
of  1883,  Chap.  174.) 


16 

1883. —  Importance  of  industrial  education  discussed  by  Superintendent 
Seaver,  outlining  a  central  school  which  later  was  reaUzed  in  the 
Mechanic  Arts  High  School.  A  Committee  on  Industrial  Educa- 
tion reported  in  favor  of  manual  training  as  a  part  of  the  course 
of  instruction  in  the  public  schools.  At  this  early  day  the 
modern  distinction  between  manual  training  and  industrial 
education  does  not  appear  to  have  been  accepted.     (S.  D.  4  of 

1883,  p.  34;  S.  D.  19  of  1883;  S.  D.  15  of  1889;  S.  D.  18  of  1897, 
p.  33;  S.  D.  4  of  1901,  p.  34.) 

1884. —  Text-books  and  other  school  supplies  required  to  be  furnished 
free  to  all  pupils.  (Acts  of  1884,  Chap.  103;  S.  D.  19  of  1884, 
p.  12.) 

Manual  training  first  introduced,  under  provisions  of  Acts  of  1884, 
Chap.  69,  authorizing  instruction  in  the  "elementary  use  of 
hand  tools"  which  were  to  be  bought  and  loaned  free  to  pupils. 
Rooms  in  the  basement  of  the  Latin  School  building  were  fitted 
with  tools  and  benches,  and  a  class  of  200  boys  from  the 
grammar  schools  was  taught  carpentry  and  cabinet  making. 
(S.  D.  19  of  1884,  p.  18.) 

Pupils  forbidden  to  attend  public  schools  while  or  within  two 
weeks  after  any  member  of  the  household  is  sick  of  small-pox, 
diphtheria,  or  scarlet  fever.  (Acts  of  1884,  Chap.  64;  see  also 
Acts  of  1885,  Chap.  198.) 

Permanent  corps  of  substitute  teachers  suggested.      (S.  D.  4  of 

1884,  p.  12;  see  also  S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  84.) 

Movement  to  reduce  number  of  Supervisors  from  six  to  four 
unsuccessful.     (S.  D.  3  of  1884;  S.  M.  of  1884,  p.  53.) 

Rules  amended  to  increase  the  executive  powers  of  the  Superin- 
tendent.    (S.  M.  of  1884,  p.  171.) 

1885. —  Mayor  no  longer  a  member  of  the  School  Committee,  but  he  is 
given  a  qualified  veto  on  orders,  resolutions  or  votes  of  the 
School  Committee  involving  the  expenditure  of  money.  (Acts 
of  1885,  Chap.  266,  Sect.  10.) 
Teaching  of  physiology  and  hygiene,  including  effect  of  alcoholic 
drinks,  etc.,  made  compulsory  in  the  public  schools.     (Acts  of 

1885,  Chap.  332.) 

Office  of  Instructor  in  Hygiene  estabfished.  (S.  M.  of  1885,  pp. 
116,  146;  S.  D.  8  of  1886;  S.  D.  20  of  1889.) 

State  granted  land  on  Newbury  street  to  city  for  Horace  Mann 
School  for  the  Deaf.  (Acts  of  1885,  Chap.  201.)  New  building 
erected  thereon  and  opened  in  1890.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  67.) 

School  Committee  authorized  to  provide  at  expense  of  the  city 
apparatus,  books  of  reference  and  other  means  of  illustration. 
(Acts  of  1885,  Chap.  161.) 

The  City  Solicitor  having  ruled  that  attendance  could  not  be 
required  outside  the  regular  schools,  permission  was  granted  to 
children  from  the  Eliot  and  Hancock  schools,  whose  parents  or 
guardians  so  request,  to  attend  on  probation  the  North  End 
Industrial  Home  two  hours  a  week  for  manual  training  (S.  D. 
3  of  1885;   S.  M.  of  1885,  p.  90),  and   girls  from  Winthrop. 


17 

Franklin,  Everett,  Hyde  and  Wells  schools  authorized  to  attend 
the  Tennyson  street  school  of  cookery.  (S.  D.  19  of  1885, 
p.  28.) 
1885. —  Schools  for  licensed  minors  discontinued,  and  position  of  Super- 
intendent of  Licensed  Minors  abolished,  pupils  being  transferred 
to  ungraded  classes.     (S.  D.  19  of  1885,  p.  23.) 

1886. —  First  schools  of  cookery  opened  at  city's  expense.  (S.  M.  of  1886, 
pp.  124,  184;  S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  281;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  107.) 

Parental  School  for  truants  authorized  (Acts  of  1886,  Chap.  282), 
but  in  spite  of  repeated  requests  from  School  Committee  not 
established  by  City  Council  until  1895  (S.  D.  23  of  1890,  p.  38; 
S.  D.  20  of  1891;  S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  85),  truants  in  the  mean- 
while being  sent  to  Deer  Island.     (S.  D.  4  of  1885,  p.  67.) 

Election  of  teachers  on  tenure  authorized.  (Acts  of  1886,  Chap. 
313.)    Adopted  in  Boston  in  1889.    (S.  M.  of  1889,  pp.  67,  77.) 

Evening  high  school  required  by  law  to  be  established  in  cities 
of  50,000  inhabitants  if  requested  by  50  qualified  residents. 
(Acts  of  1886,  Chap.  236.) 

1887. —  Interesting  account  of  the  history  of  vacations,  holidays,  etc.,  in 
the  schools  of  Boston.     (S.  D.  17  of  1887,  p.  27.) 

1888. —  Kindergartens  for  children  3^  years  old  again  taken  into  the  school 
system.     (S.  D.  18  of  1888,  p.  10.) 
Course  in  Normal  School  extended  to  1^  years.     (S.  M.  of  1888, 

p.  245.) 
Suggested  reduction  of  pupils,  from  56  to  40,  in  first  class  of 
grammar  schools  defeated.     (S.  M.  of  1888,  p.  192.) 

1889. —  Compulsory  attendance  law  amended  so  that  poverty  is  no  longer 
an  excuse  for  absence  from  school,  and  all  exceptions  repealed 
other  than  that  the  child  shall  have  attended  for  the  required 
period  a  private  day  school  approved  by  the  School  Committee, 
or  has  been  otherwise  instructed,  or  has  already  acquired  the 
required  learning,  or  if  his  physical  or  mental  condition  renders 
attendance  inexpedient  or  impracticable.  (Acts  of  1889,  Chap. 
464.) 

Truant  officers  authorized  to  apprehend  without  a  warrant  and 
take  to  school  any  truant.     (Acts  of  1889,  Chap.  422.) 

Power  of  School  Committee  over  location,  erection  and  repairs 
of  school  buildings  enlarged,  but  appropriations  still  left  with 
.  City  Council.     (Acts  of  1889,  Chap.  297.) 

Janitors,  engineers  and  all  persons  haying  charge  of  steam  boilers 
and  furnaces  in  the  school  buildings  placed  under  the  Civil 
Service  law.     (Acts  of  1889,  Chap.  352.) 

Establishment  of  a  Mechanic  Arts  High  School  advocated  and  plan 
formulated  by  Superintendent  Seaver.     (S.  D.  5  of  1889,  p.  19.) 

Boston  Teachers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association  organized.  (S.  D. 
4  of  1895,  p.  73.) 

Majority  and  minority  reports  on  Instruction  in  Hygiene.  (S.  D. 
20  of  1889.)  Report  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  on  Physical 
Training.     (S.  D.  10  of  1889.) 


18 

1890. —  School  Committee  authorized  to  erect  and  furnish  new  school 

buildings  from  loans  not  to  exceed  $550,000.     (Acts  of  1890, 

Chap.  355.) 
Last  regular  session  prior  to  Memorial  Day  to  be  devoted  to 

exercises  of  a  patriotic  nature.     (Acts  of  1890,  Chap.  111.) 
Horace  Mann  School  for  Deaf  transferred  to  new  building  on 

Newbury  street.     (S.  D.  24  of  1890.) 
Attempt  to  reduce  quota  of  pupils  to  49  in  grammar  and  primary 

schools  defeated.     (S.  M.  of  1890,  p.  105.) 
Office  of  Instructor  in  Hygiene  aboHshed  and  Director  of  Physical 

Training  established.     (S.  M.  of  1890,  pp.  45,  210.) 
Interesting  majority  and  minority  reports  on  coeducation  of  the 

sexes.     (S.  D.  19  of  1890.) 
Plan  of  having  no  recess,  and  dismissing  the  morning  session  at 

20  minutes  before  twelve  tried  in  various  schools  (S.  D.  7  of 

1890,  p.  27),  but  later  given  up  (S.  D.  12  of  1891,  p.  22). 
Leave  of  absence  of  one  year  on  half  pay  authorized  for  teachers 

after  every  ninth  year  of  service.     (S.  M.  of  1890,  pp.  227, 233.) 

Discontinued  in  1895.     (S.  M.  of  1895,  pp.  250,  315.) 
1891. —  Compulsory  age  limit  increased  to  15  in  cities  or  towns  where 

opportunity  is  furnished  for  gratuitous  instruction  in  the  use  of 

tools  or  in  manual  training,  or  for  industrial  education  in  any 

form.     (Acts  of  1891,  Chap.  361.) 
School  Committee  assented  to  appointment  by  Board  of  Health  of 

medical  inspectors  for  schools.     (S.  D.  19  of  1891,  p.  27;  S.  M. 

of  1891,  p.  301.) 
Elaborate  report  on  Physical  Training.     (S.  D.  22  of  1891;    see 

also  S.  D.  8  of  1894.) 
Opinion  of  Corporation  Counsel  that  the   Normal  School  was 

for  girls  only  and  that  men  could  not  be  admitted.     (S.  D.  19 

of  1891,  p.  10.) 
1892. —  Investigation  and  elaborate  report  as  to  proper  seating  of  pupils 

and  as  to  the  injurious  efifect  of  unsuitable  school  furniture. 

(S.  D.  9  of  1892;  see  also  S.  D.  8  of  1894,  p.  108;  S.  D.  4  of 

1895,  p.  169.) 
Course   in   Normal   School   extended   to   two  years.     (S.  M.  of 

1892,  p.  189.) 
1893. —  Truant  officers  placed  under  Civil  Service  law.     (Acts  of  1893, 

Chap.  253.) 
Mechanic  Arts  High  School  established.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  54.) 
Cities  and  towns  maintaining  free  evening  schools  authorized  to 

provide  lectures  on  natural  sciences,  history  and  kindred  sub- 
jects.    (Acts  of  1893,  Chap.  208.) 
Omission  of,  and  substitute  plan  for,  diploma  examinations,  and  for 

promotions  from  primary  to  grammar  schools.     (S.  M.  of  1893, 

pp.  291,  331;  S.  D.  15  of  1895,  p.  13;  S.  M.  of  1895,  p.  353.) 
1894. —  Manual  Training  in  high  schools  made  compulsory  by  law  after 

September   1,  1895,  in  cities  of   20,000  or  more  inhabitants, 

the  course  of  instruction  to  ''be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 

State  Board  of  Education."     (Acts  of  1894,  Chap.  471.) 


19 

1894. —  Instruction,  in  cooking  authorized  (although  Boston  had  schools 
of  cookery  since  1886),  and  the  requirement  as  to  instruction  "in 
the  elementary  use  of  hand  tools"  changed  to  "the  use  of 
tools."  Tools,  implements  and  materials  required  to  be  loaned 
to  pupils  free  of  charge.     (Acts  of  1894,  Chap.  320.) 

Vivisection  in  pubHc  schools  prohibited  in  the  presence  of  any 
scholar,  child  or  minor.     (Acts  of  1894,  Chap.  151.) 

Compulsory  school  law  amended  in  certain  details.  (Acts  of 
1894,  Chap.  188.)  Law  as  to  compulsory  attendance  and 
truancy  codified.     (Acts  of  1894,  Chap.  498.) 

Medical  Visitors  (Inspectors)  for  the  schools  estabhshed  by  the 
Board  of  Health.  (S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  76;  S.  D.  4  of  1900, 
p.38.) 

Special  committee  appointed  to  consider  giving  the  Superintendent 
and  Board  of  Supervisors  greater  power  and  responsibility 
reported  in  favor  thereof  (S.  D.  7  of  1894),  and  their  recom- 
mendations were  adopted ;  but  real  power  continued  in  sub-com- 
mittees. (S.  M.  of  1894,  pp.  199  to  207;  S.  D.  19  of  1894,  p.  10; 
S.  D.  4  of  1896,  p.  86.) 

Report  on  secondary  education  by  Committee  of  Ten  of  the 
National  Educational  Association  (of  which  President  Eliot 
was  chairman)  considered  by  Superintendent  Seaver,  in  the  course 
of  which  he  discussed  the  regrading  of  classes  "in  such  a  way 
as  to  give  eight  years  or  grades  below  the  high  school." 
(S.  D.  4  of  1894,  pp.  5,  12,  28  and  29;  see  also  S.  D.  19  of  1894, 
p.  18;  S.  D.  4  of  1896,  p.  46.) 

Departmental  instruction  in  grammar  schools  authorized. 
(S.  D.  20  of  1893;  S.  M.  of  1894,  p.  47;  S.  D.  19  of  1894,  p.  15; 
S.  D.  5  of  1897,  p.  47;  S.  D.  4  of  1900,  p.  17.) 

Experiment  authorized  of  parallel  courses  of  study  of  four  and 
six  years  in  grammar  schools.  (S.  D.  19  of  1894,  p.  16;  S.  D. 
4  of  1895,  p.  27.) 

1895. —  Foreign  flags  forbidden  on  outside  of  schools  (Acts  of  1895,  Chap. 
115)  and  United  States  flag  required  to  be  provided  for  each 
'  schoolhouse.     (Acts  of  1895,  Chap.  181.) 

School  Committee  given  full  power  to  erect  and  furnish  school 
buildings;  Street  Commissioners  to  take  land  at  request  of  School 
Committee;  bonds  authorized.     (Acts  of  1895,  Chap.  408.) 

Latin,  French,  algebra  and  geometry,  and  other  "enrichment 
studies"  introduced  in  certain  grammar  schools  experimentally. 
(S.  D.  4  of  1895,  p.  37;  S.  D.  4  of  1896,  p.  41;  S.  D.  5  of  1897, 
p.  42.) 

Position  of  Director  of  Kindergartens  estabhshed.  (S.  M.  of 
1894,  p.  348.) 

Parental  School  for  truants  estabhshed  in  West  Roxbury  (under 
Acts  of  1886,  Chap.  282)  after  many  efforts  by  the  School 
Committee  to  secure  action  by  City  Council,  under  jurisdiction 
of  directors  of  public  institutions  (now  Children's  Institutions 
Department),  subject  to  visitation  by  School  Committee. 
(S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  85.) 


20 

1896. —  Supervision  of  drawing  in  day  schools  restored,  and  a  staff  of 
assistants  to  the  Director  appointed.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  100.) 
Transfer  of  Normal  School  to  State  considered,  and  defeated. 
(S.  M.  of  1896,  p.  523;  S.  D.  5  of  1897,  p.  16.) 

1897. —  Additional  loans  authorized,  of  which  not  less  than  $500,000  to 

be  used  for  new  high  school  buildings  in  East  Boston,  South 

Boston,  West  Roxbury  and  Dorchester.     (Acts  of  1897,  Chap. 

442.) 
Board  of  Supervisors  report  in  favor  of  a  Girls'  High  School  of 

Practical  Arts.     (S.  D.  10  of  1897.) 
Commercial  courses  in  high  schools  authorized  but  not  introduced 

until  1898.     (S.  D.  19  of  1897,  p.  30;  S.  D.  15  of  1898,  p.  18.) 
Rules  amended  giving  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  (instead  of  to 

the    sub-committees)    the    initiative    in    the    appointment    of 

teachers.     (S.  D.  19  of  1897,  p.  26  et  seq.) 

1898. —  School  Committee  given  power  (formerly  in  City  Council)  to 
make  appropriations  from  tax  rate  within  prescribed  limits  for 
the  support  of  the  pubHc  schools,  including  repairs  and  altera- 
tions upon  school  buildings.     (Acts  of  1898,  Chap.  400.) 

Important  changes  in  rules  giviiig  Superintendent  and  Supervisors 
greater  power,  and  reducing  the  powers  of  sub-committees; 
the  appointment,  transfer  and  removal  of  teachers  being  given 
to  the  Superintendent,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  School 
Committee.  Attempt  made  but  failed  to  aboUsh  sub-com- 
mittees.    (S.  D.  15  of  1898,  p.  13;  S.  D.  11  of  1898.) 

Merit  Hst  established  for  the  appointment  of  teachers  from 
graduates  of  Normal  School  (S.  D.  3  of  1899,  p.  13),  thus  for 
the  first  time  introducing  the  Civil  Service  idea  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  teachers.     (S.  D.  4  of  1900,  p.  13.) 

School  Committee  voted  in  May  to  discontinue  the  Normal 
School  in  the  hope  that  the  State  would  take  it  over,  but  the 
popular  protest  was  so  great  that  in  November  the  vote  was 
rescmded.  (S.  M.  of  1898,  pp.  310,  574;  S.  D.  3  of  1903, 
p.  60.) 

Additional  loans  for  high  and  Latin  schools  authorized.  (Acts 
of  1898,  Chap.  149.) 

Law  as  to  school  attendance  and  truancy  amended  and  codified. 
Compulsory  age  limit  "between  seven  and  fourteen."  A  child 
need  not  be  vaccinated  upon  certificate  of  a  practicing  physician 
that  such  child  is  an  unfit  subject  therefor.  Measles  added  to 
list  of  contagious  diseases.     (Acts  of  1898,  Chap.  496.) 

Manual  Training  made  compulsory  in  both  elementary  and 
high  schools.     (Acts  of  1898,  Chap.  496,  Sect.  4.) 

Evening  schools  required  to  teach  the  EngUsh  language  and 
grammar,  industrial  drawing,  both  freehand  and  mechanical, 
physiology  and  hygiene,  in  addition  to  previously  required 
subjects.     {Id.,  Sect.  5.) 

1899. —  School  Committee  given  full  power  over  repairs  and  erection  of 
new  buildings.    (Acts  of  1899,  Chap.  362.) 


21 

1899. —  The  attempt. to  abolish  sub-committees  having  failed,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  an  amendment  to  the  rules  restoring  their 
power,  and  giving  them  a  practical  veto  over  all  appointments, 
transfers  and  removals  of  teachers  in  their  respective  districts, 
thus  partially  overthrowing  the  reforms  of  the  previous  year. 
(S.  M.  of  1899,  p.  300.) 
First  appropriation  for  playgrounds.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  122.) 
Erection  of  Normal  School  building  authorized  (Acts  of   1899, 
Chap.  239),  but  subsequently  repealed.     (Acts  of  1901,  Chap. 
473,  Sect.  8.) 
Special    classes    for    mentally    deficient     children     established. 
(S.  D.  4  of  1900,  p.  51.) 

1900. —  Lectures  on  natural  sciences,  history  and  kindred  subjects  author- 
ized.    (Acts  of  1900,  Chap.  166.) 

School  teachers'  retirement  fund  established.  (Acts  of  1900, 
Chap.  237;  S.  D.  19  of  1900,  p.  8.) 

Portable  schoolhouses  built  to  relieve  temporary  congestion  of 
pupils  in  different  sections  of  the  city.  (S.  D.  19  of  1900, 
p.  26.) 

Vacation  Schools  established  for  the  first  time  under  authority 
of  Acts  of  1899,  Chap.  246.  (S.  D.  15  of  1900;  S.  D.  15  of 
1902,  p.  25.) 

Elaborate  report  by  Health  Department  (S.  D.  6  of  1900)  showing 
sanitary  needs,  and  by  Fire  Department  (S.  D.  16  of  1900) 
showing  fire  protection  needs  for  schools. 

Quota  of  pupils  to  teachers  reduced  from  56  to  50  in  grammar 
classes  and  two  primary  grades,  and  to  42  in  the  first  primary 
grade.  (S.  D.  19  of  1900,  p.  13;  S.  D,  3  of  1900,  p.  7;  S.  D. 
4  of  1900,  p.  23;  S.  M.  of  1900,  p.  265.) 

A  corps  of  paid  substitutes  established  to  fill  temporary  vacancies 
in  teaching  force.  (S.  D.  19  of  1900,  p.  14;  S.  D.  4  of  1900, 
p.  26.) 

Reduction  of  grades  in  elementary  schools  from  nine  to  eight 
recommended  by  Superintendent  and  Board  of  Supervisors 
(S.  D.  3  of  1900,  p.  19),  and  School  Committee  voted  to  instruct 
Board  of  Supervisors  to  prepare  revised  course  providing 
for  eight  grades  instead  of  nine.  (S.  M.  of  1900,  p.  244;  S.  D. 
4  of  1900,  p.  36.) 

1901. —  Schoolhouse  Department  established;  loans  of  $1,000,000  annually 
for  four  years  for  new  buildings,  etc.,  authorized  (Acts  of  1901, 
Chap.  473),  and  School  Committee  given  authority  to  appro- 
priate annually  from  the  tax  rate  40  cents  upon  each  $1,000  of 
taxable  valuation  for  new  schools.  (Acts  of  1901,  Chap.  448.) 
Additional  loan  of  $300,000  authorized  to  complete  buildings 
then  being  erected.  (Acts  of  1901,  Chap.  288.) 
South  Boston  High  School  established  (S.  D.  3  of  1903,  p.  52) 
and  new  high  school  buildings  opened  in  Dorchester,  East 
Boston  and  West  Roxbury.     (S.  D.  15  of  1901,  p.  18.) 


22 

1901. —  Elective  system  for  studies  in  high  schools  adopted.  (S.  D.  3 
of  1901,  p.  7  et  seq.;  S.  D.  15  of  1901,  p.  15.) 

Experiment  in  school  gardening  'conducted  in  connection  with 
Normal  School.     (S.  D.  11  of  1901,  p.  5.) 

Office  of  Schoolhouse  Custodian  established.  (S.  D.  15  of  1901, 
p.  16.) 

Free  evening  lectures  given  under  provisions  of  Acts  of  1893, 
Chap.  208,  and  Acts  of  1900,  Chap.  -166.  (S.  D.  15  of  1902, 
p.  32;   S.  D.  13  of  1903;   S.  D.  13  of  1904,  p.  25.) 

1902. —  Petition  to  Legislature  for  authority  to  establish  a  Teachers' 
College  in  place  of  Normal  School  —  Legislature  gave  leave  to 
withdraw.     (S.  D.  3  of  1902,  p.  12;   S.  D.  14  of  1903,  p.  11.) 

Unsuccessful  attempt  made  to  increase  the  course  in  the  Normal 
School  to  three  years.     (S.  M.  of  1902,  p.  507.) 

Increased  loans  for  new  buildings  authorized.  (Acts  of  1902, 
Chap.  386.) 

Rules  amended  taking  away  power  of  sub-committees  over  appoint- 
ments, transfers  and  removals  of  teachers,  and  requiring  that 
the  same  be  made  by  the  Superintendent  direct  to  the  School 
Committee.     (S.  M.  of  1902,  p.  94.) 

Appropriation  from  taxes  for  new  buildings  vetoed  by  Mayor. 
Later  $90,000  appropriated  for  that  purpose  and  approved  by 
Mayor.     (S.  D.  15  of  1902,  p.  50.) 

The  subject  of  the  extended  use  of  school  buildings  considered,  and 
Educational  Centres  established  (since  merged  in  evening 
schools).  (S.  D.  15  of  1902,  p.  17;  S.  D.  13  of  1904,  p.  45; 
S.  D.  7  of  1908,  p.  54.) 

Resolution  adopted  that  sex  should  not  be  a  bar  to  promotion  in 
the  teaching  force,  and  that  in  any  appointment  to  a  position 
as  principal  of  a  girls'  school,  a  woman,  other  things  being  equal, 
should  be  preferred.  (S.  D.  15  of  1902,  p.  40;  S.  M.  of  1902, 
p.  179.) 

Power  to  license  minors  under  14  vested  in  Boston  School  Com- 
mittee. (Acts  of  1902,  Chap.  531.)  Rules  provide  that  the 
minimum  age  for  licensees  shall  be  over  10.  (S.  M.  of  1902, 
p.  462.) 

A  system  of  promotion  of  janitors  for  merit  estabhshed.  (S.  D. 
14  of  1903,  p.  16.) 

1903. —  Appropriation  of  $60,000  authorized  for  maintenance  of  schools, 
out  of  "40  cents"  fund.     (Acts  of  1903,  Chap.  170.) 

Valuable  historical  review  of  the  Boston  school  system  by  Super- 
intendent Seaver.     (S.  D.  3  of  1903.) 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Extended  Use  of  School  Buildings, 
with  an  account  of  Educational  Centres  and  Vacation  Schools. 
(S.  D.  9  of  1903.) 

Uniform  schedule  of  janitors'  salaries  adopted.  (S.  D.  11  of 
1903;  S.  M.  of  1903,  p.  522.) 

1904. —  School  Committee  authorized  to  expend  money  for  exhibition 
at  any  national,  state  or  foreign  exposition.  (Acts  of  1904, 
Chap.  172.) 


23 

1904. —  Admission  of  men  to  Normal  School  authorized  (Acts  of  1904, 
Chap.  212)  and  entrance  to  the  Normal  School  made  more 
difl&cult,  through  examinations,  in  the  hope  of  securing  better 
teachers.     (S.  D.  9  of  1906,  p.  12.) 

The  change  from  nine  to  eight  grades  below  the  high  schools 
further  considered.  Superintendent  Seaver  said  "the  present 
opposition  to  a  change  is  nothing  more  than  a  disinchnation 
to  change  working  habits.  The  waste  of  time  that  affects  the 
course  of  very  many  of  the  abler  pupils  and  the  dawdling  habits 
thereby  engendered  call  for  some  effectual  remedy."  (S.  D.  3 
of  1904,  pp.  48,  50,  73.) 

Industrial  education  in  elementary  schools,  introduced  experi- 
mentally in  Winthrop  School.     (S.  D.  10  of  1910,  p.  56.) 

George  H.  Conley  elected  Superintendent.  (S.  M.  of  1904, 
p.  302.) 

Power  of  sub-committees  over  appointments,  transfers  and 
removals  of  teachers  partially  restored,  the  rules  being  amended 
to  require  that  the  same  be  first  submitted  to  said  committees, 
who  are  required,  however,  to  report  to  the  School  Committee 
not  later  than  one  month  thereafter.  (S.  M.  of  1904,  pp.  143, 
173;  S.  D.  13  of  1904,  p.  13.) 

Elaborate  report  by  Director  of  Drawing  on  the  Evening  Drawing 
Schools,  their  needs,  possibilities  of  extension,  and  value  in 
industrial  training.     (S.  D.  3  of  1905.) 

1905. —  Compulsory  school  age  raised  to  "under  16"  where  child  cannot 

read  and  write  English.     (Acts  of  1905,  Chap.  320.) 
Lincoln  Day  to  be  observed  with  appropriate  exercises  in  the 

pubHc  schools.     (Acts  of  1905,  Chap.  328.) 
State  released  to   city   land   on   Newbury  street,   occupied   by 

Horace  Mann  School,  the  procesds,  if  sold,  to  be  used  for  another 

site  for  the  School  for  the  Deaf.     (Acts  of  1905,  Chap.  467.) 
Further  loan  authorized  for  new  buildings.     (Acts  of  1905,  Chap. 

392.) 
Permission  given  to  certain  private  charitable  organizations  to 

place  trained  nurses  in  certain  schools  without  expense  to  the 

city,  an  experiment  which  led  to  the  legislation  as  to  nurses  in 

1907.     (S.  D.  17  of  1906,  p.  51.) 
Plans  for  Commercial  High  School  adopted.     (S.  D.  4  of  1905; 

S.  M.  of  1905,  p.  224.) 
Walter  S.  Parker  Acting  Superintendent  after  Mr.  Conley 's  death 

in  December.     (S.  D.  9  of  1906,  p.  8.) 
School  Committee  reorganized  and  membership  reduced  to  five 

(beginning  January,  1906);    elected  at  large.     (Acts  of  1905, 

Chap.  349.) 

1906. —  Board  of  Superintendents  established  (in  place  of  Board  of  Super- 
visors), to  consist  of  Superintendent  and  six  assistant  Super- 
intendents, elected  by  School  Committee  for  terms  of  one  to  six 
years,  one  assistant  superintendent  to  be  elected  annually,  after 
first  election  for  six  years.  (Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  231.) 
Stratton  D.  Brooks  elected  Superintendent  for  term  of  six  years. 
(S.  M.  of  1906,  p.  162.) 


24 

1906. —  Rules  and  regulations  revised,  leaving  details  of  administration 
to  be  performed  by  paid  officials,  with  executive  responsibility, 
while  the  duties  of  the  School  Board  became  mainly  legislative. 
(S.  D.  9  of  1906,  p.  10.)  The  principle  of  direct  accountability 
on  the  part  of  subordinates  to  superiors  established.  (S.  D. 
17  of  1906,  p.  20.)  System  of  sub-committees  abolished. 
(S.  D.  17of  1906,  p.  12.) 

Office  of  Business  Agent  established  and  Auditor,  Business  Agent 
and  Secretary  elected  on  tenure.     (Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  318.) 

Board  of  Sale  of  school  land  and  buildings  established,  consisting 
of  the  Mayor,  School  Committee  and  Schoolhouse  Commission. 
(Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  259.) 

Independent  Industrial  Schools  authorized,  the  State  to  bear  one- 
fifth,  later  increased  to  one-half  the  cost.  (Acts  of  1906, 
Chap.  505;  Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  540.) 

School  athletics  placed  in  charge  of  School  Committee.  (Acts 
of  1906,  Chap.  251.) 

Law  amended  so  that  physical  or  mental  condition  capable  of 
correction  no  excuse,  unless  all  reasonable  measures  are  employed 
to  correct  the  same,  for  a  child's  nonattendance  at  school. 
(Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  383.) 

Appointment  of  School  Physicians  required  by  law,  but  not 
applicable  to  Boston  where  Board  of  Health  maintains  them. 
Every  child  in  the  public  schools  to  be  tested  by  teachers  at  least 
once  a  year  for  defective  sight  or  hearing  or  other  disability 
tending  to  prevent  its  receiving  full  benefit  of  school  work. 
(Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  502.) 

Ground  for  temporary  exclusion  of  pupils  from  school  extended  to 
exposure  to  any  infectious  or  contagious  disease.  (Acts  of 
1906,  Chap.  371.) 

Boston  Juvenile  Court  established.     (Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  489.) 

Under  the  new  Board  the  following  measures  for  improving  the 
school  service  undertaken  or  accomplished  (see  Superintendent's 
Report,  S.  D.  9  of  1906,  and  Annual  School  Report,  S.  D.  17 
of  1906): 

(1)  Merit  system  of  appointing  teachers  through  a  Civil  Service 
system  greatly  strengthened. 

(2)  Change  of  requirements  for  teachers'  certificates  to  secure 
teachers  skilled  in  departmental  work. 

(3)  System  established  of  supervising  and  training  teachers 
while  serving  as  substitutes.  Supervisor  of  Substitutes 
appointed. 

(4)  Promotional  examinations  or  tests  of  efficiency  required 
of  teachers. 

(5)  A  system  established  of  leave  of  absence  on  half  pay  for 
purposes  of  study  and  travel  to  teachers  who  have  served  seven 
years,    and   leave  of   absence  for  rest  after  twenty   years  of 


25 

1906. —  (6)  Heads  of  departments  established  in  high  and  Latin  schools 
to  secure  uniformity  of  aim  and  greater  effectiveness  in  teach- 
ing departmental  subjects. 

(7)  Establishment  of  High  School  of  Commerce. 

(8)  Revision  of  high  school  course  of  study,  restricting  some- 
what the  freedom  of  electives,  and  establishing  certain  required 
subjects.  A  full  four  years,  or  its  equivalent,  required  to  secure 
a  diploma. 

(9)  Revision  of  Evening  High  School  course  of  study  to  encourage 
pupils  to  p.ursue  a  regular  course  of  serious  work  with  final 
graduation  in  four  years. 

(10)  Elimination  of  distinction  between  primary  and  grammar 
schools;  both  thereafter  treated  as  elementary  schools  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  high  or  secondary  schools. 

(11)  Substitution  of  eight  for  nine  grades  in  the  elementary 
schools. 

(12)  Reorganization  of  manual  training  for  girls,  and  appoint- 
ment of  a  Supervisor  of  Household  Science  and  Arts  to  have 
charge  of  cookery  and  sewing. 

(13)  Establishment  of  disciplinary  classes  for  boys  who  might 
otherwise  be  sent  to  the  Parental  School. 

(14)  Election  of  a  medical  inspector  for  special  classes. 

(15)  Uniting  of  drawing  and  manual  training  into  one  depart- 
ment, under  one  director. 

(16)  Evening  and  Vacation  Schools  united  under  one  director. 

(17)  Evening  class  in  salesmanship  previously  maintained  at 
private  expense  taken  into  the  school  system. 

(18)  Appointment  of  Advisory  Committee  of  Physicians  to 
consider  various  health  problems. 

1907. —  Power  of  School  Committee  in  respect  to  physical  education 
enlarged;  special  appropriations  from  tax  rate  (two  cents  for 
1907  and  four  cents  annually  thereafter  upon  each  $1,000 
of  taxable  valuation)  authorized  for  physical  education  and 
playgrounds,  etc,     (Acts  of  1907,  Chap.  295.) 

School  nurses  authorized,  with  special  appropriation  from  tax 
rate  not  exceeding  $10,000  for  1907  and  thereafter  each  year 
of  2  cents  upon  each  $1,000  of  taxable  valuation.  (Acts  of  1907, 
Chap.  357.) 

Physician's  certificate  to  exempt  child  from  vaccination  must  be 
"for  cause  stated  therein."     (Acts  of  1907,  Chap.  215.) 

School  Committee  required  each  year  to  designate  where  addi- 
tional school  accommodations  are  necessary,  and  order  in 
which  they  shall  be  provided;  annual  issue  of  bonds  for  new 
school  buildings  authorized.     (Acts  of  1907,  Chap.  450.) 

The  following  measures  were  begun  or  accomplished  (see 
Superintendent's  Report,  S.  D.  13  of  1907,  and  Annual  School 
Report,  S.  D.  16  of  1907) : 

(1)  Larger  co-operation  of  the  teaching  force  in  determining 
educational  policies. 


26 

1907. —  (2)  Readjustment  of  the  high  schools  to  the  new  system  of  eight 
grades  in  the  elementary  schools.  A  committee  of  conference 
known  as  the  Committee  on  Betterment  appointed  for  this  pur- 
pose, consisting  of  the  Superintendent  and  representatives  of 
the  Board  of  Superintendents,  high  and  elementary  school  prin- 
cipals and  teachers. 

(3)  Revision  of  course  of  study  for  elementary  schools  to  meet 
the  change  in  number  of  grades,  prepared  with  the  assistance  of 
.special  committees  consisting  of  one  or  more  assistant  Superin- 
tendents, Directors,  principals  and  teachers. 

(4)  Reduction  of  quota  of  pupils  in  elementary  schools  to  48  in 
1907,  46  in  1908,  and  thereafter  44. 

(5)  Reorganization  of  the  Department  of  Physical  Training  as 
a  Department  of  School  Hygiene  under  a  Director  of  Hygiene; 
school  athletics  placed  under  this  department. 

(6)  System  of  training  teachers  strengthened  by  appointment 
of  a  Supervisor  of  Practice  in  the  Normal  School. 

(7)  High  School  of  Practical  Arts  for  Girls  established. 

(8)  Industrial  education  extended  in  elementary  schools  through 
experiment  in  Hancock  and  Agassiz  schools  and  continued  in 
Winthrop  School. 

(9)  Appointment  of  special  advisory  committees  of  laymen  on 
various  school  subjects,  notably  the  Committee  for  the  High 
School  of  Commerce. 

(10)  Appointment  of  committee  of  teachers  known  as  the  Com- 
mittee on  College  Credit  to  consider  the  opportunities  for  col- 
legiate instruction  open  to  teachers  of  Boston  and  vicinity. 

(11)  Extension  of  schedule  of  janitors'  salaries  to  include  high 
schools. 

1908. —  Pensions  (maximum  $180  per  year)  for  members  of  the  teaching  or 

supervising  staff  required  with  special  appropriations  from  tax 

rate  of  5  cents  annually  on  each  $1,000  of  taxable  valuation.   (Acts 

of  1908,  Chap.  589.)     Accepted  by  City  Council  June  22,  1908. 

Instruction  required  by  law  to  be  given  as  to  tuberculosis  and  its 

prevention.     (Acts  of  1908,  Chap.  181.) 
Provisions  as  to  fire  escapes.     (Acts  of  1908,  Chap.  524.) 
The  following  measures  were  begun  or  accomplished  (see  Super- 
intendent's Report,  S.  D.  7  of  1908,  and  Annual  School  Report, 
S.  D.  8of  1908): 

(1)  Codification  of  teachers'  certificate  privileges,  and  list  pre- 
pared of  teachers  arranged  as  to  their  eligibility  for  promotion. 

(2)  Teacher  assigned  to  open-air  class  for  tuberculous  children 
on  Parker  Hill ;  later  transferred  to  Refectory  Building,  Franklin 
Park. 

(3)  Teachers  of  sewing  for  the  first  time  appointed  on  tenure, 
and  the  work  reorganized  under  the  Supervisor  of  Household 
Science  and  Arts. 

(4)  Departmental  organization  of  the  high  schools  completed 
by  appointment  of  women  as  heads  of  departments  with  the 
rank  of  first  assistants. 


27  ■ 

1908. —  (5)  Establishment  of  High  School  Councils,  one  for  each  depart- 
ment, consisting  of  the  heads  of  departments  of  the  various 
high  schools,  each  school  having  one  vote,  to  consider  the 
important  problems  of  courses  of  instruction,  text-books,  sup- 
plementary material  and  kindred  subjects. 

(6)  Clerical  assistants  authorized  in  Latin  and  high  schools 
to  relieve  principals  from  clerical  work. 

(7)  Last  year  of  the  Vacation  Schools,  which  this  year  in  part 
and  thereafter  wholly  were  merged  into  the  Summer  Play- 
grounds. 

(8)  Committees  of  school  principals  established  to  advise  Super- 
intendent as  to  plans  for  new  buildings. 

(9)  Exchange  of  teachers  with  Prussia  arranged  through  the 
Carnegie  foundation. 

(10)  Board  of  Apportionment  estabUshed  consisting  of  Board 
of  Superintendents,  Business  Agent  and  Auditor. 

(11)  Rule  established  under  which  teachers  retire  at  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  maximum  age  limit  for  new  teachers  placed 
at  forty. 

(12)  Martin  District  organized  as  a  model  school  for  the  pupils 
of  the  Normal  School,  with  one  of  the  Normal  School  teachers 
(Director  of  the  Model  School)  as  principal. 

(13)  One  of  the  truant  officers  made  Supervisor  of  Licensed 
Minors. 

(14)  Extension  of  term  of  evening  schools  for  foreign-born 
pupils. 

(15)  Keeping  of  records  in  and  making  report  by  evening  schools 
systematized. 

(16)  System  of  accounts  adopted  by  the  Business  Agent  to  show 
the  cost  of  each  unit  of  the  school  system. 

1909. —  Appropriations  allowed  School  Committee  from  the  tax  levy 
for  general  school  purposes  increased  from  $2.75  to  $2.85  upon 
each  $1,000  of  taxable  valuation  in  1909-10,  $2.95  in  1910-11, 
and  $3.05  in  1911-12;  each  in  addition  to  25  cents  for  the 
repair  fund,  40  cents  for  the  new  buildings  fund,  4  cents  for 
physical  education,  2  cents  for  nurses,  and  5  cents  for  pensions, 
upon  each  $1,000.     (Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  388.) 

School  Committee  given  authority  over  secret  (except  rehgious) 
organizations  of  pupils.     (Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  120.) 

Display  of  United  States  flag  on  or  in  schools  made  compulsory. 
(Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  229.) 

Loans  authorized  for  High  School  of  Commerce  and  administra- 
tion building.     (Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  446.) 

Pensions  for  teachers  —  maximum  pension  $180.  (Acts  of  1909, 
Chap.  537.)  Not  accepted  by  School  Committee,  and  repealed 
by  Acts  of  1910,  Chap.  617. 

The  following  measures  were  undertaken  or  completed  (see 
Superintendent's  Report,  S.  D.  13  of  1909,  and  Annual  School 
Report,  S.  D.  15  of  1909) : 


28 

1909. —  (1)  Trade  School  for  Girls  established,  under  provisions  of 
Acts  of  1906,  Chap.  505,  and  Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  540,  to  be 
conducted  by  School  Committee  as  agent  of  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, the  State  bearing  part  of  the  cost,  the  object  of  the  school 
being  to  give  a  trade  training  to  girls  between  fourteen  and 
eighteen  who  are  obliged  to  become  wage  earners. 

(2)  Summer  High  School  opened  in  the  Roxbury  High  School 
for  those  wishing  to  make  up  conditions,  those  preparing  for 
college  admission  examinations  and  for  admission  to  high 
schools. 

(3)  A  committee  on  vocational  advice  appointed. 

(4)  Evening  industrial  schools  take  place  of  evening  drawing 
schools,  conducted  by  School  Committee  as  agent  of  Board  of 
Education,  the  State  bearing  part  of  the  cost  (under  Acts  of 
1906,  Chap.  505,  and  Acts  of  1909,  Chap.  540). 

(5)  Further  experiments  of  an  industrial  character  in  the  ele- 
mentary schools  introduced  in  the  Eliot  School,  Washington 
Allston  School,  Lyman  School,  OHver  Wendell  Holmes  District, 
Quincy  District  and  in  the  Horace  Mann  School. 

(6)  Pre-Apprentice  School  for  Printing  and  Bookbinding  estab- 
lished in  East  Boston. 

(7)  Experimental  health  or  open-air  rooms  established. 

(8)  Manual  for  public  school  playgrounds  issued  and  greater 
activity  and  system  with  respect  to  physical  training.  Pro- 
visional courses  in  physical  education  adopted  both  for  the 
elementary  and  high  schools.  Weighing  scales  and  measuring 
rods  purchased  to  take  records  of  each  child's  weight  and  height. 

(9)  Health  Day  observed  in  the  schools  and  annual  Health  Day 
established. 

1910. —  New  act  passed  providing  annual  pensions  for  members  of  the 
teaching  and  supervising  staff  retired  under  its  provisions — 
minimum,  after  30  years'  service,  $312;  maximum,  $600;  also 
pensions  of  not  less  than  $180  for  not  less  than  sixty  annuitants 
of  Teachers'  Retirement  Fund  and  other  teachers  described  in 
the  act.     (Acts  of  1910,  Chap.  617.) 

Instruction  to  be  given  in  "thrift"  authorized.  (Acts  of  1910, 
Chap.  524.) 

Requirements  as  to  military  drill  modified,  exempting  a  pupil 
if  his  parent  or  guardian  is  of  a  reUgious  denomination  con- 
scientiously opposed  to  bearing  arms,  or  is  conscientiously 
scrupulous  of  bearing  arms;  or  upon  certificate  from  a  physician 
of  good  standing  that  it  would  be  injurious  to  the  pupil's  health. 
(Acts  of  1910,  Chap.  201.) 

The  following  measures  have  been  established  or  considered: 

(1)  Teachers'  council  on  pensions  organized. 

(2)  Continuation  schools  established,  wherein  persons  employed 
may  receive  part  time  instruction  that  will  be  of  immediate 
assistance  in  their  daily  work.  Title  of  Director  of  Evening 
and  Vacation  Schools  changed  to  Director  of  Evening  and 
Continuation  Schools. 


29 

1910. —  (3)     New  system  of  penmanship  introduced. 

(4)  Minimum  age  limit  for  admission  to  kindergartens  raised  to 
four  years. 

(5)  Clerical  High  School  established  by  order  passed  February  7, 
1910,  to  begin  on  July  11,  1910;  order  rescinded  because  of 
lack  of  funds  June  6,  1910. 

(6)  Newsboys'  Trial  Board  established  consisting  of  two  adults 
appointed  by  School  Committee  and  three  licensed  newsboys 
elected  by  their  fellows. 

(7)  Trial  Board  for  Janitors  estabUshed,  consisting  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  School  Committee,  the  Business  Agent,  and  a  school 
janitor  elected  by  his  associates,  to  secure  a  careful  investigation 
of  complaints  made  against  janitors,  engineers  or  matrons. 

(8)  Appropriation  from  annual  taxes  for  new  school  buildings 
passed  over  Mayor's  veto. 

1911. —  Savings  banks  authorized  with  consent  of  and  under  regulations 
approved  by  School  Committee  and  Bank  Commissioner  to 
receive  deposits  from  school  children  through  the  principal  or 
teachers  or  by  collectors.     (Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  211.) 

Penalty  for  failure  to  display  United  States  flag  on  schoolhouses. 
(Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  232.) 

School  committees  authorized  to  expend  money  for  the  super- 
vision of  sports  and  the  equipment  thereof.  (Acts  of  1911, 
Chap.  314.) 

School  committees  authorized  to  graijt  use  of  school  halls  for 
public  or  educational  purposes  which  will  not  interfere  with 
regular  school  work.  (Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  367.)  Not  yet 
accepted  by  the  Boston  City  Council, 

"Illiterate  minor"  defined  by  statute  (for  compulsory  attendance 
at  evening  school)  to  mean  an  illiterate  under  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.     (Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  241.) 

Instruction  authorized  in  the  application  of  surgical  remedies 
and  first  aid  for  the  injured.     (Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  247.) 

School  Committee  authorized  to  appropriate  an  additional  10 
cents  in  the  year  1912,  20  cents  in  the  year  1913,  and  thereafter 
annually  25  cents  upon  each  $1000  of  taxable  valuation,  to  be 
used  wholly  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  salaries  of  teachers. 
(Acts  of  1911,  Chap.  708.) 

The  following  measures  were  begun  or  accomphshed: 

(1)  Establishment  of  the  following  new  schools: 

o.     Boston   Industrial   School   for   Boys   (taking   over    the 
Pre- Apprentice  School  for  Printing  and  Bookbinding) . 

b.  Evening  Trade  School. 

c.  Girls'  Evening  High  School. 

d.  Continuation  School  class  in  household  arts  as  a  State- 

aided  school. 

(2)  Assumption  by  the  School  Committee  of  the  financial  con- 
trol of  all  school  athletics. 


30 

1911. —  (3)  Enlargement  of  the  truant  officers'  force  and  the  special 
assignment  of  one  truant  officer  to  the  enforcement  of  the  laws 
pertaining  to  evening  school  attendance. 

(4)  Adoption  of  a  regulation  requiring  a  small  deposit  for  admis- 
sion to  evening  high  and  industrial  schools  of  persons  not 
required  by  law  to  attend  such  schools,  under  Acts  of  1911, 
Chap.  309. 

(5)  Appointment  of  a  permanent  force  of  playground  teachers. 

(6)  Establishment  of  additional  open-air  classes  in  elementary 
schools. 

(7)  Removal  of  old  and  unauthorized  text-books  from  the  schools 
systematically  begun. 

(8)  Adoption  of  a  per  capita  plan  of  distribution  of  supplies 
and  text-books  in  the  schools. 


31 


INDEX 


Page 

Absence,  leave  of,  for  .teachers 18,  24 

Administration  Building 27 

Adults,  schools  for 9,  11,  13,  15,  28 

Advisory  committees 25,  26 

African  children,  schools  for 6 

Agassiz  School 26 

Age  limit  for  minors'  licenses 22 

Age  limit  for  pupils 6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  15,  18,  20,  23,  29 

Age  limit  for  teachers 27 

Agriculture 12 

Alcoholic  drinks 16 

Aldermen 7 

Algebra 7,  11,  19 

Annual  reports  by  School  Committee 9 

Apparatus,  free 16 

Apportionment,  Board  of 27 

Appropriations 6,  11,  12,  13,  17,  20,  22,  25,  26,  27,  29 

Arithmetic 6,  9,  15 

Astronomy 11 

Athletics 24,  26,  29 

Attendance  at  school 10,  13,  17,  18,  19,  20,  23,  24,  29 

Auditing  clerk 14 

Auditor 24,  27 

Behavior 6,  15 

Betterment,  committee  on 26 

Bible  reading 11,  12,  14 

Bishop,  Nathan 10 

Blackboards 8 

Board  of  Apportionment 27 

Board  of  Education,  State 9,  12,  18,  28 

Board  of  Health 18,  19,  21,  24 

Board  of  Sale 24 

Board  of  Superintendents 23,  26,  27 

Board  of  Supervisors 14,  15,  16,  17,  19,  20,  21,  23 

Bonds 19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  25,  27 

Book-keeping 7 

Books 7,  8,  11,  12,  13,  14,  16,  30 

Boston  Industrial  School  for  Boys 29 

Boston  Juvenile  Court 24 

Botany 11 

Brighton,  annexation  of 13 

Brighton  High  School 9,  13 


32 

Page 

Brooks,  Stratton  D 23 

Buildings,  school 13,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  27,  29 

^Business  agent 24,  27 

Calisthenics 15 

Carpentry 15,  16 

Certificates  for  teachers 5,  7,  12,  14,  24,  26 

Chairs 11 

Charlestown,  annexation  of 13 

Charlestown  High  School 10,  13 

Chemistry 11 

Children,  mentally  deficient 21 

Children,  testing  sight,  hearing,  etc 24 

Children's  Institutions  Department 19 

Children's  savings 29 

City  Council 9,  13,  17,  19,  20,  29 

City  medals  for  girls 7 

Civil  poHty 11 

Civil  service 17,  18,  20,  24 

Classes,  size  of 15,  17,  18,  21,  26 

Clerical  assistants 27 

Clerical  High  School 29 

Coeducation 8,  12,  18 

College  credit,  committee  on 26 

Color,  distinction  on  account  of,  forbidden 11 

Colored  children 6,  9,  11 

Commerce,  High  School  of 23,  25,  26,  27 

Commercial  courses 20 

Committee  of  Ten,  report  of 19 

Committees,  advisory 25,  26 

Common  Council 8,  10 

Common  schools,  beginning  of 5 

Compulsory  school  attendance 10,  13,  17,  18,  19,  20,  23,  24,  29 

Conferences,  teachers' 26 

Conley,  George  H 23 

Conservatism,  instance  of 8 

Constitutional  amendment 11 

Contagious  diseases 16,  20,  24 

Continuation  schools 28,  29 

Cookery 17,  19,  25 

Corporal  punishment 12 

Councils,  teachers' 25,  27,  28 

Current  expenses  paid  by  loan 6 

Custodian,  Schoolhouse 22 

Deaf,  Horace  Mann  School  for 13,  16,  18,  23,  28 

Deare  Island 5 

Deer  Island 17 

Defective  sight  or  hearing,  testing  of 24 

Departmental  instruction 19,  24,  25,  26 

Departments,  heads  of 25,  26 

Desks 11 


33 

Page 

Dictionaries 10 

Diphtheria 16 

Diplomas 7,  13,  18,  25 

Disciplinary  classes 25 

Dorchester,  annexation  of 13 

Dorchester  High  School 10,  13,  20,  21 

Double-headed  system 6,  8 

Drawing 8,  9,  10,  13,  15,  20,  23,  25,  28 

Drawing,  director  of,  report 23 

Drill,  mihtary ' 12,  15,  28 

Dwight  School,  carpenter's  class  in 15 

East  Boston  High  School 14,  20,  21 

Education,  State  Board  of 9,  12,  18,  28 

Educational  Centres 22 

Elective  studies 22,  25 

Elementary  schools 5,  20,  23,  25,  26 

Eliot,  Charies  W.,  President 19 

EHot  High  School 10 

Eliot,  Samuel 14 

Eliot  School 16,  28 

Engineers 17,  29 

English 5,  6,  9,  11,  20,  23 

English  Classical  School 7 

English  High  School 7,  8,  9 

Evening  drawing  schools 13,  23,  28 

Evening  high  schools 13,  17,  25,  29,  30 

Evening  industrial  schools 13,  28 

Evening  schools 11,  12,  13,  15,  17,  18,  20,  22,  23,  25,  27,  28,  29,  30 

Evening  Trade  School 29 

Everett  School 17 

Examination  papers  of  1845 9 

Examinations  for  diplomas 18 

Examinations  of  teachers 7,  12,  14,  24 

Exhibitions,  appropriations  for,  authorized 22 

Extended  use  of  school  buildings 22,  29 

Fire  protection  needs 21,  26 

First  public  school 5 

Flags ; 19,  27,  29 

Foreign-born  pupils,  evening  schools  for 27 

Franklin  medals 6 

Frankhn  School 17 

Free  text-books 7,  10,  16 

French 11,  19 

Furniture 11,  18 

Gardening 22 

Geography 6,  9,  15 

Geology 11 

Geometry 7,  19 

Girls,  city  medals  for 7 

Giris'  Evening  High  School 29 


34 


Page 

Girls  first  admitted  to  schools 6 

Girls'  High  and  Normal  School 10,  13 

Girls'  High  School 7,  8,  10,  11,  13 

Girls'  High  School  of  Practical  Arts 20,  26 

Girls'  Latin  School 14 

Girls,  trade  school  for 28 

Globes 8 

Grades,  beginning  of  system  of  nine 13 

Grades,  reduction  from  nine 19,  21,  23,  25,  26 

Grammar 5,  6,  9,  20 

Grammar  masters 5,  6,  8,  9,  10,  12,  14,  15 

Grammar  schools 5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  13,  16,  17,  18,  19,  21,  25 

Greek 6 

Gymnastics 10,  15 

Hancock  School 16,  26 

Hand  tools 16,  18,  19 

Harvard  College 5,  7 

Health  Day 28 

Health  Department 18,  19,  21,  24 

Hearing,  defective,  testing  for 24 

High  school  councils 26 

High  schools 7,  8,  9,  12,  13,  15,  17,  20.  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  29,  30 

High  schools,  suburban,  abohtion  proposed 15 

Historical  review  of  schools 22 

History 7,  11,  15,  18,  21 

Holidays 17 

Horace  Mann  School 13,  16,  18,  23,  28 

Household  science  and  arts 25,  26,  29 

Household  science  and  arts,  supervisor  of 25,  26 

Hyde  School 17 

Hygiene 10,  15,  16,  17,  18,  20,  26 

Hygiene,  director  of 26 

Hygiene,  instructor  in 15,  16,  18 

Illiterate  children 7 

Illiterate  minor 29 

Independent  industrial  schools 24,  28,  29 

Industrial  education 13,  14,  15,  16,  18,  23,  24,  26,  28,  29,  30 

Infant  schools 8 

Injured,  first  aid  to,  instruction  in 29 

Institute  of  Technology 7 

Intellectual  science 11 

Intermediate  schools 7,  9,  14 

Janitors 13,  17,  22,  26,  29 

Juvenile  Court 24 

Kindergartens 8,  13,  14,  17,  19,  29 

Knitting 7 

Latin 5,  6,  19 

Latin  schools 5,  14,  20,  24,  25,  26 

Leave  of  absence  for  teachers 18^  24 

Lectures 12,  18,  21,  22 


35 

Page 

Licensed  minors 12,  14,  17,  22,  27 

Lincoln  Day 23 

Loans 6,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  25,  27 

Logic 7 

Long  Island 5 

Lyman  School 28 

Mann,  Horace 9 

Manual  training 16, 18,  20,  25 

Maps 8 

Martin  District,  model  school 27 

Matrons 29 

Mayor 7,  8,  10,  16,  22,  24 

Measles 20 

Measuring  rods 28 

Mechanic  Arts  High  School 14, 16, 17,  18 

Medals 6,  7 

Medical  inspector  for  special  classes 25 

Medical  inspectors 14,  15,  18, 19,  24,  25 

Memorial  Day 18 

Mentally  deficient  children,  classes  for 21 

Merit  system 20,  22,  24 

Military  drill 12,  25,  28 

Model  school 27 

Moral  science ,. 11 

Music 8,  9,  11 

Music,  director  of 11 

National  Educational  Association 19 

Natural  philosophy 11 

Natural  sciences 18,  21 

Nautical  schools ; 14 

Newsboys'  trial  board 29 

Nonresident  pupils 11 

Nonsectarianism 7,  11,  12,  14 

Normal  School 10,  13,  15,  17,  18,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26 

North  End  Industrial  Home 16 

Nurses 23,  25,  27 

Ohver  Wendell  Holmes  District 28 

Open-air  classes 26,  28,  30 

Orthography 6,  15 

Parallel  courses  of  study 19 

Parental  School 17,  19,  25 

Parker,  Walter  S 23 

Pencils • 8 

Penmanship 29 

Pensions ' 14,  26,  27,  28 

Philbrick,  John  D 10,  11 

Physical  training 8,  10,  12,  17,  18,  25,  26,  28 

Physical  training,  director  of 18 

Physicians,  school '. 24 

Physiology 10,  16,  20 


36 

Page 

Playgrounds 21,  25,  27,  28,  30 

Political  economy 11 

Portable  schoolhouses 21 

Practical  Arts,  Girls'  High  School  of 20,  26 

Practice,  supervisor  of 26 

Pre-Apprentice  School 28,  29 

Primary  school  committee. 7,  8,  9,  11 

Primary  schools 7,  8,  9,  11,  12,  14,  15,  18,  21,  25 

Promotional  examinations 24 

Promotions  of  teachers 24,  26 

Prussia,  exchange  with 26 

Pupils,  number  to  a  teacher 15,  17,  18,  21,  26 

Qualifications,  teachers'  certificate  of 5,  7,  12,  14,  24 

Quincy  School 10,  28 

Quota  of  pupils  to  teachers 15,  17,  18,  21,  26 

Race,  distinction  on  account  of,  forbidden 11 

Reading 5,  6,  9,  15 

Recess,  no,  experiment 18 

Reference  books,  free 16 

Rehgion,  distinction  on  account  of,  forbidden 11 

ReHgious  instruction 6,  7,  11,  12,  14 

Reorganization  of  school  system 6,  7,  8,  10, 11,  13,  14,  20,  23 

Repairs,  school 20 

Retirement  fund 21,  28 

Retirement  of  teachers 27 

Rhetoric 7 

Roxbury,  annexation  of • 13 

Roxbury  High  School 10,  12,  13 

Roxbury  High  School  for  Girls 11,  12 

Salaries  paid  from  loans - 6 

Salaries,  special  appropriation  for 29 

Sale,  Board  of 24 

Salesmanship 25 

Sanitary  needs 21 

Savings,  children's 29 

Scarlet  fever 16 

School  buildings 13,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  27 

School  Committee 6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  12,  13,  14, 15,  17,  18 

19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  27,  28,  29 

School  Committee  incorporated 14 

School  Committee,  Primary 7,  8,  9,  11 

School  halls,  use  of 29 

Schoolhouse  custodian 22 

Schoolhouse  Department 21,  24 

School  physicians 24 

School  supplies,  free 16 

School  system,  reorganization  of 6,  7,  8,  10, 11,  13,  14,  20,  23 

Schools: 

continuation 28,  29 

elementary 5,  20,  23,  25,  26 


37 

Schools:  Page 

evening 11,  12,  13,  15,  17,  18,  20,  22,  23,  25,  27,  28,  29,  30 

grammar 5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  13,  16,  17,  18,  19,  21,  25 

high 7,  8,  9,  12,  13,  15,  17,  20,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  29,  30 

household  science  and  arts 25,  29 

industrial 24;  28,  29 

infant 8 

intermediate 7,  9,  14 

kindergarten 8,  13,  14,  17,  19,  29 

Latin • 5,  14,  20,  24,  25,  26 

Mechanic  Arts 14,  16,  17,  18 

Normal 10,  13,  15,  17,  18,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26 

Practical  Arts 20,  26 

Pre-Apprentice 28,  29 

primary 7,  8,  9,  11,  12,  14,  15,  18,  21,  25 

summer 28 

trade 14,  28,  29 

vacation 21,  22,  25,  26,  27 

writing 5,  6,  9,  15,  29 

Schools,  sectarian,  appropriations  for,  forbidden 11 

Science 11 

Seating  of  pupils 18 

Seaver,  Edwin  P 15, 16, 17,  19,  22,  23 

Secondary  education,  report  on 19 

Secret  organizations 27 

Secretary 14,  24 

Sectarian  schools,  appropriations  for,  forbidden 11 

Sectarianism 7,  1 1,  12,  14 

Selectmen 5,  6,  7 

Sewing 7,  9,  11,  14,  15,  25,  26 

Sex,  not  a  bar  to  promotion 22 

Shaw,  Chief  Justice 8 

Sight,  defective,  testing  for 24 

Singing 9 

Single  desk  and  chair 11 

Single-headed  system 8,  10 

Slates 8,  11 

Smallpox 16 

South  Boston  High  School 20,  21 

Spectacle  Island 5 

SpelUng 6 

Sports,  supervision  of 29 

State  Board  of  Education 9,  12,  18,  28 

Stationery 11,  14 

Street  Commissioners 19 

Sub-committees 11,  14,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24 

Substitute  teachers 16,  21,  24 

Substitutes,  Supervisor  of 24 

Suburban  high  schools,  proposed  abolition  of 15 

Summer  High  School 28 

Sunday  schools 6 


38 

Page 

Superfluous  employee 10 

Superintendent 9,  10,  11,  14,  15,  16,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26,  27 

Superintendent  of  licensed  minors 14,  17,  27 

Superintendents : 

Nathan  Bishop 10 

John  D.  Philbrick 11 

Samuel  Eliot 14 

Edwin  P.  Seaver 15 

George  H.  Conley 23 

Walter  S.  Parker  (acting) 23 

Stratton  D.  Brooks 23 

Superintendents,  Board  of 23,  26,  27 

Supervisors,  Board  of 14,  15,  16,  17,  19,  20,  21,  23 

Supplementary  reading 15 

Supphes,  per  capita  distribution  of 30 

Surveying 7 

Tax  limit  for  schools 20,  21,  22,  25,  26,  27,  29 

Teachers 5,  7,  9,  10,  11,  12,  14,  16,  17,  18,  20 

21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30 

Teachers'  certificates 5,  7,  12,  14,  24,  26 

Teachers'  college 22 

Teachers,  exchange  with  Prussia 27 

Teachers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association 17 

Teachers'  retirement  fund 21,  28 

Tennyson  Street  School 17 

Tenure  for  school  officers 24 

Tenure  for  teachers 17,  26 

Text-books 7,  10,  11, 12,  13,  14,  16,  30 

Thrift ■ 28 

Tools 16, 18,  19 

Trade  schools 14,  28,  29 

Truant  laws 10,  15,  19,  20 

Truant  officers 13,  14,  15,  17,  18,  30 

Trust,  power  to  hold  property  in 14 

Tuberculosis 26 

Ungraded  classes 17 

Unification  of  school  system 8,  9,  10,  12,  15,  19,  20,  24 

Unit  costs 27 

United  States  history 11 

Vacation  schools 21 ,  22,  25,  27 

Vacations 17 

Vaccination 11,  20,  25 

Veto,  Mayor's 16,  22,  29 

Vivisection 19 

Vocational  advice 28 

Voters,  women 14 

Ward  representation 7,  8,  10 

Washington  Allston  School 28 

Weighing  scales 28 

Wells  School 17 


'...   •   :..: :    ••  *'.!  ••  •••        p^g^ 

West  Roxbury,  annexation  of 13 

West  Roxbury  High  School 10,  13,  20,  21 

Winthrop  School 16,  23,  26 

Women,  heads  of  departments 26 

Women  principals 22 

Women  voters 14 

Writing 5,  6,  9,  15,  29 

Writing  masters 5,  6,  8,  10 

Writing  schools 5,  8,  9 


UNIVERSrrV    (.)L'   CAUFuli.NiA   ^iriKARY 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


MAY 


SBi^ 


|N   STACKS 

APR  15  1955 


Gay  lord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
PAT.  JAN.  21, 1908 


3< 

^ 

A/?  sac 
B'7/li- 

YC 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

